NOTE: This is a preliminary report only. Data are yet to be fully checked and analysed.

VOYAGE REPORT OF A SURVEY OF DEEP-SEA HABITATS OF THE LOUISVILLE SEAMOUNT CHAIN (TAN1402)

Malcolm Clark, Owen Anderson, Dave Bowden, Caroline Chin, Steve George, Debra Glasgow, John Guinotte, Santiago Hererra, Deb Osterhage, Arne Pallentin, Steve Parker, Sonia Rowley, Rob Stewart, Di Tracey, Steve Wood, Cong Zeng

Photo caption: A mixed benthic community of stony corals, brisingid seastars, feather stars and urchins on Forde Guyot

Project report VMES133 May 2014

2

Project title: Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

Project code: VMES133

Vessel: R.V. Tangaroa

Area: Central Louisville Seamount Chain

Period: 31 January – 6 March 2014

Voyage staff: Malcolm Clark (Voyage Leader), Dave Bowden (Watch Leader), Steve Parker, Rob Stewart, Owen Anderson, Arne Pallentin, Di Tracey, Steve George, Caroline Chin (Science H&S officer) (all NIWA), John Guinotte (MCI, USA), Cong Zeng (VUW, NZ), Sonia Rowley (UH, USA), Santiago Herrera (MIT, WHOI, USA), Deb Osterhage (CSIRO, University of Tasmania), Debra Glasgow (volunteer mammal observer, NZ), Steve Wood (volunteer seabird observer, NZ)..

BACKGROUND Vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are ecosystems that are considered to be highly vulnerable to one or more kinds of human activity such as fishing. VMEs are identified by the vulnerability of their species, communities, and/or habitats to disturbance. There are concerns that VMEs are threatened by fishing in areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction (‘high seas’). The United Nations, international conservation organisations, and fisheries management agencies all wish to implement management strategies to project VMEs, and thereby preserve ecosystem function in the deep sea. New Zealand fishing fleets operate in the high seas region of the South Pacific, and New Zealand is currently leading initiatives to improve fisheries management in the region through the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO).

There is currently limited information about the distribution or characteristics of VMEs in the South Pacific, which is hampering the design of management measures. Recent studies have demonstrated that habitat suitability models can predict the occurrence of seabed animals that indicate the presence of VMEs. Various international bodies have called for the development of such models and for their use in designing effective management plans for fishing on the high seas.

The VME Project aims to produce predictive models for VMEs in the South Pacific - specifically the SPRFMO area and the New Zealand EEZ. The effectiveness of potential management and conservation scenarios to protect VMEs will be evaluated using these models. The project has to date collated all available biological and environmental data for building two types of preliminary habitat suitability model (Maximum Entropy “MaxEnt” and Boosted Regression Tree “BRT”) for a number of VME indicator taxa (e.g. stony corals, sponges). The performance of the preliminary habitat suitability models has been evaluated by internal cross-

3

validation. However, model predictions should ideally be ground-truthed to give end-users (e.g., the SPRFMO Scientific Committee) confidence in their application for management purposes. Thus a critical component of the VME project is to design and implement a survey to evaluate the reliability of the VME models. The Louisville Seamount Chain has been identified and agreed amongst the project team and its Stakeholder Advisory Group as a suitable area, where the models are expected to be most relevant for managing fishing activity and conserving VMEs in the SPRFMO region. This seamount chain is currently important to New Zealand fisheries, known to host VME species and subject to interim protection measures. Part of the Louisville Seamount Chain has also been identified recently as an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area (although this is a designation without management implications under the Convention on Biological Diversity).

Voyage objectives: Project objectives (1) To collect environmental and biological data suitable for (a) the validation and/or improvement of preliminary large-scale, habitat suitability models for VME indicator taxa; and (b) the development of small-scale, habitat suitability models for VME indicator taxa. (2) To collect specimens of VME indicator taxa (e.g. corals, sponges) for studies of genetic connectivity, and taxonomy and systematics.

Secondary objectives (3) To collect live specimens of coral for shore-based laboratory observation. (4) To observe marine mammals and seabirds to validate and/or improve existing habitat suitability models for these megafauna.

METHODS

Survey area The sampling encompassed 6 seamounts along the Louisville Seamount Chain (Figure 1). They were originally distributed in three regions which reflected a general gradient in fishing from North to South, and although this gradient was maintained, the actual seamounts surveyed changed based on a review of which were the most suitable to test the final model results. The six seamounts were: Forde Guyot “CenSeam Guyot” “Anvil Seamount” “39South Seamount” “Ghost Seamount” Valerie Guyot A single station was on “JCM Guyot”

4

Figure 1: The general survey area on the Louisville Seamount Chain, showing the selected seamounts along the chain.

Survey stratification Survey design was based upon sampling a range of habitat suitability model options, in order to test the accuracy and reliability of the predictions. There were 5 main “strata”, each one relating to specific model characteristics:

Stratum Colour Conditions 0001 Green High probability of coral occurrence, both BRT and Maxent , unfished 0002 Pink Low probability of coral occurrence, both BRT and Maxent, unfished 0003 Blue Different probability between models (one high, one low), unfished 0004 Grey Intermediate probability of coral occurrence (neither high nor low), BRT model, unfished 0005 Red High probability of coral occurrence, both BRT and Maxent, fished.

Model results were produced at a scale of 0.5 by 0.5 n.miles, and the grid was used to structure sampling. Cells were selected at random, 6 for stratum 1 (which was deemed the most important), and 4 for each of the other strata (see Figure 2). Some seamounts typically deep) had no, or few, cells of some strata (usually 0002, which were typically deeper than 1500 m, or 0005 where northern seamounts had less fishing).

5

Figure 2: Example of a survey design planning map, with cell colour depicting stratification, and labels showing the cells selected for sampling. Single cells were not selected, as the length of a DTIS tow was generally about 1 n.mile. Hence two cells were required for a tow to remain within the boundaries of a stratum. Direction of tow, and also which cells could be sampled, was affected by weather, with the vessel operation best with the wind on the starboard bow.

The random approach was complemented by some selected transect lines, based on three qualifications: • Depth: The modeling was based on SRTM bathymetry. Once the MBES surveys were completed, and true bathymetry was known, it was clear that many of the cells were in depth ranges that would not be suitable for stony corals. Cells were then replaced by ones at shallower depth. • Experience of the staff onboard. This was especially valuable as the survey progressed and it became clear that the distribution of corals was patchy and localised. The tops of the guyots were very consistent in that the substrate comprised sand, with few corals. Hence, in order to gain more information in the limited time available, additional cells were selected where topography and backscatter indicated from experience a greater chance that corals may be abundant. • Cell selection was also influenced by the specific location of trawling, based on several interviews with previous fishing skippers, and their fishing maps. This gave more precise positional information than the MPI catch records, where vessel position is used, and rounded to the nearest minute of latitude and longitude.

6

Sampling operations

Multibeam mapping High quality multibeam data were not available for any of the seamounts, although transit lines of 12kHz bathymetric data, and good coverage of one seamount, from several voyages by the German RV Sonne were helpful. On five of the 6 seamounts it was necessary to run multibeam transects (using the Tangaroa ’s Kongsberg EM302) across large areas of the seamount before sampling could commence. Mapping was generally run along the axis of each seamount, typically in a NW-SE orientation. Speed depended on the weather conditions at the time, and was between 6 and 9 knots. Forde was mapped in one continuous survey, but it was planned that the other seamounts being larger were surveyed in 2 blocks, each about 12 hours in duration.

Photographic sampling The main sampling tool was NIWAs Deep Towed Imaging System (DTIS). This is a towed camera frame system designed to survey epifauna, demersal fish and substrate type (Figure 3). DTIS is fitted with Sony 1080 50i HD video and Canon 10 megapixel SLR still image cameras. DTIS was deployed along transects of 1 h duration at speeds of 0.5-1 kt. Seabed video was monitored in real time and spatially referenced observations of substrate type and benthic megafauna were logged using Ocean Floor Observation Protocol software (OFOP). DTIS was tracked in real time against the appropriate multibeam sonar terrain map using the Tangaroa’s Simrad HiPAP system, with the officer of the watch using the OFOP repeater screen on the bridge for precise positioning of the camera in relation to seabed features. DTIS video tapes were rendered as uncompressed high definition (1080 50i HDV) *.m2t files using non-linear video editing software and saved to a dedicated hard disc drive for backup. Still images were downloaded from DTIS immediately on recovery of the vehicle and filenames and metadata were written using the batch edit facilities in ACDSee Pro. All images were then saved to the OFOP PC data drive and backed up to the DTIS video hard drive. OFOP log files were checked for completeness and consistency after each deployment and backed up to the ship’s server. Ashore, all video, image, and log files were uploaded to secure servers at Greta Point, Wellington. Video tape originals (miniDV format) were archived in the Brodie building map room at Greta Point.

Direct faunal sampling Samples of the invertebrate epifauna, as well as rocks, were obtained using an epibenthic sled- NIWAs “Seamount Sled” (SEL) (see Figure 3). The sled has a 1m wide and 0.3m high mouth opening, with a 25mm mesh liner inside a 100mm chafing net outer. The sled was used to target sites where corals, representative fauna, or unusual species were observed on DTIS. Tows varied in length depending upon the distribution of targets along the DTIS transect, and the likely catch of rocks or coral rubble associated with the track. The sled was deployed from the port trawl winch. On a number tows, a transponder beacon was attached, so the position of the sled could be monitored during the tow. The whole sample was photographed on the trawl deck and then transferred to bins for weighing. Depending on catch volume, either the whole sample or a subsample was sorted for fauna on the 5 mm mesh sorting table. All specimens were preserved appropriately (ethanol or formalin depending on taxon). All preserved and discarded samples, together with total catch weights, were recorded in the Specify database and, once ashore, all faunal samples were lodged at the NIWA Invertebrate Collection, Greta Point, Wellington.

7

Several types of coring/grab equipment were also taken in the event that conditions and time allowed sampling of soft sediment sites. However, these were not used given the focus on maximizing the time during the survey for the epibenthic objectives.

Water sampling A small Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) unit was attached to DTIS, and data recorded for every camera transect. Once on each seamount, a 12 bottle CTD unit (Figure 3) was deployed in the vicinity of live coral colonies. Samples were collected at standard depths of 10, ~50-100 (approx. depth of mixed layer), 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500 m, etc. Duplicate samples were taken when possible at bottom depths where live scleractinian corals were found and / or where live corals were sampled. Samples were taken for alkalinity (1 Litre bottles) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (250 ml bottles). Bottom temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) was recorded at each sample depth on CTD log sheets. Photographs were made of CTD log sheets as well as hard copy print outs. The CTD log sheets have a record of where possible contamination occurred by bottle. Record sheets (depth, bottle number, station, etc) of each CTD were placed in water sample bins.

Deployment of all gear was planned with direct reference to multibeam maps and observations from the DTIS video transects. Full data on the times and positions of each deployment were logged in Tangaroa ’s Trawl Coordinator system, and transferred once ashore to the appropriate databases.

Coral aquarium Live scleractinian corals were collected from several seamounts along the Louisville Ridge. For each epibenthic sled haul, a chilled ~5.5 oC seawater slurry bin was readied so corals collected by the sled could be placed back in seawater with temperatures close to where they were collected. The slurry bins with live corals were then taken to the wetlab area for processing where coral colonies of sufficient size (~125 cm 3 or larger) were selected to meet voyage objectives.

The colonies were removed from the chilled water one at a time, attached to a small piece of plastic mesh with a label, weighed, photographed, then placed into one of 12 bins in Tangaroa ’s flow-through, temperature controlled aquarium system. This system was setup with a high flow rate (~50 l/hr) and temperature of ~ 5oC to reproduce conditions found in the areas from which they were collected. Specify no, lot no, weight, and date were recorded on the catch form and label. This label was placed in a zip lock bag and attached with a small cable tie, to each coral colony and the mesh. A written record was made of where each coral colony was placed in the aquarium system, both on paper and on a whiteboard in the lab.

8

Figure 3: The sampling gear used for the survey: DTIS (top), the Seamount sled (lower right), and 12 bottle CTD (lower left).

RESULTS

Voyage timetable and narrative The voyage track is shown in Figure 4 and a summary of the daily work schedule is given in Table 1.

9

Figure 4: Track of RV Tangaroa during voyage TAN1402.

Table 1. TAN1402 voyage timetable and summary of activities.

Date Activity 31 Jan Mobilisation completed. Sail from Wellington 1800. Test DTIS in harbour. Autopilot problem, return to port. 1-3 Feb In port, Wellington, checking fault, awaiting replacement. 4-6 Feb Transit to Louisville Seamount Chain, northern site. 7 Feb Forde Guyot. Arrive 0930, SVP prior to MBES survey. MBES finished 2300. 8 Feb Forde Guyot: 7 DTIS, 3 sleds 9 Feb Forde Guyot: 2 DTIS, 1 fast for some time and damage, swap to spare DTIS. 3 sleds. 3 DTIS once changed over. 10 Feb Forde Guyot: Straight run of 8 DTIS. 11 Feb Forde Guyot. Hipap problem when underway system leaks. CTD on VME site, a sled. 1200 transit to CenSeam Guyot. SVP, and commence MBES survey 1930. 12 Feb CenSeam Guyot: 7 MBES lines, finish 1100. 5 DTIS. 13 Feb CenSeam Guyot: 8 DTIS. 14 Feb CenSeam Guyot: 2 sleds, 9 DTIS. 15 Feb CenSeam Guyot. 2 DTIS, 2 sleds, 1 CTD cast. Complete 1 MBES line on western side. Steam for Anvil Seamount. No MBES survey as have previous Sonne data. 16 Feb Anvil Seamount: 8 DTIS, 1 sled.

10

Date Activity 17 Feb Anvil Seamount. 4 DTIS, 1 sled. Complete CTD 1340. Head for 39South, via southern flank of JCM Guyot. JCM Guyot Two short MBES lines on southern flank. DTIS from ridge down flank. 18 Feb Complete DTIS at JCM. Continue to 39south guyot. 39south guyot: SVP. MBES survey of eastern sector 1900. 2 DTIS. 19 Feb 39south guyot. 9 DTIS. Weather good, excellent progress. 20 Feb 39South guyot. 2 DTIS to complete east side. Sled on small cone. SVP, MBES survey of western side, 7 lines. 21 Feb 39South guyot. 4 DTIS, one sled, a CTD to 2000m. 1630 begin transit to Ghost, MBES while in transit, over several reported seamount peaks. 22 Feb Ghost Seamount: Arrive 0430. SVP and commence MBES survey of NE sector. 1700 start DTIS operations. 3 tows working DTIS. 23 Feb Ghost Seamount. Continue DTIS tows (7), and 2 sled tows. 24 Feb Ghost Seamount: 3 DTIS. SVP prior to MBES survey of SW sector of seamount. Short squall delays ops slightly. 2 DTIS in evening. 25 Feb Ghost seamount: 8 DTIS, 1 sled. 26 Feb Ghost Seamount: NW corner region. 5 DTIS, 2 sleds (1 poor), 1 CTD. 2100 transit towards Valerie, via Mt Whales, multibeaming en route. 27 Feb Valerie Guyot. SVP. Begin MBES lines 0500. Complete SW half at 1730, but weather too rough for DTIS, so continue MBES. 28 Feb Valerie Guyot: Complete MBES 0650. 2 sleds on southern spur. 5 DTIS. 1 Mar Valerie Guyot:8 DTIS, working western side primarily. 2 Mar Valerie Guyot: 3 DTIS. One fast after 35 mins on eastern flank. CTD. 2 sleds. 1515 finish operations, begin steam for Wellington. 3-5 Mar In transit to Wellington – multibeam en route. 6 Mar 08:00 – alongside, Aotea wharf, Wellington, Clear Customs 10:00

Sampling In total, 157 stations were completed, consisting of 119 DTIS, 25 epibenthic sled, and 6 CTD deployments (Table 2) In addition to the main sampling, 7 sound-velocity-probe casts were made to calibrate multibeam data. All station details are presented in Appendix 1 and locations are shown in greater detail in individual site descriptions below. One sled tow was unsuccessful, with almost no catch, although two DTIS tows ended early with the gear coming fast on obstructions, and the still camera failed on three tows.

DTIS: More than 119 hours of high definition video were recorded (1 h per DTIS station), and almost 28,000 still images were taken (240 frames per 1 h of transect) (Table 3). Image quality for both video and stills was generally high but was dependent on the altitude of DTIS above the seabed and the speed of the ship during the transect. With many camera transects undertaken on high relief volcanic substrates and on steep canyon walls, conditions were often challenging for maintaining the camera vehicle close to the seafloor at the optimum altitude for providing consistently high quality images. Thus, the total number of useable images and minutes of video will be less than the totals given above. With the excellent surface conditions through most of the survey, however, the proportion of useable images is high.

11

Table 2: Count of stations per site by gear type. Numbers include both strictly random sites, as well as semi-target stations, the number of the latter in parentheses). NA, stratum did not occur on the seamount. Seamount name Stratum DTIS Sled CTD

Forde 0001 6 6 1 0002 4 0003 4 0004 5 2 0005 NA CenSeam 0001 7 1 1 0002 4 2 0003 4 0004 5 1 0005 2 Anvil 0001 5 (2) 1 1 0002 2 1 0003 2 0004 2 0005 1 JCM 0001 1 (1) 39South 0001 5 1 1 0002 NA 0003 3 0004 6 (2) 0005 3 Ghost 0001 8 (5) 1 0002 4 (4) 2 1 0003 5 (1) 0004 6 (4) 0005 5 (2) 2 Valerie 0001 6 (1) 1 0002 NA 0003 3 (1) 0004 6 (3) 3 1 0005 1

Table 3: Summary of image data collected during the voyage. Seamount Stations Video (hours) Video (minutes) Still images Forde 20 19 26 4341 Censeam 22 22 22 4758 Anvil 13 12 27 3053 JCM 1 1 02 258 39 South 17 17 39 4255 Ghost 29 30 9 7067 Valerie 16 16 20 4132 TOTAL 118 119 25 27864

Seamount sled: In total 25 sled tows were made. All were successful except one where the catch was very small, and bottom contact may have been inadequate. Most sled tows were 10-15 minutes on the bottom, although on two occasions tows were extended to 30 minutes to cover an expanse of soft sediment where DTIS indicated sparse fauna. The sled operated very well, with

12

sampling a variety of terrain from flat sand substrate through to boulder lava flows. The sled came fast on several occasions, but was able to be freed and continue the tow on most occasions. All sleds except one were recovered without one or both the break-aways having released (set at about 10 t tension-one tow had one breakaway gone but retained a good catch). On several tows, an HPR beacon was placed on the sled. This enabled us to monitor the sled position accurately. Figure 5 shows the vessel and the sled positions from the beacon.

Figure 5: A trace of vessel (orange) and sled (blue) position, during a tow on CenSeam Guyot, towing southwards from the summit plateau down a section of the flank at 1300 m.

Site descriptions

Descriptions of faunal assemblages and substratum types were recorded in real time from DTIS camera transects and subsequently augmented by observations from high-resolution still images. In the next sections of the report, we document for each seamount the sampling sites, descriptions of each video transect, and selected images of the seafloor that give a representative idea of the observed communities.

13

Forde Guyot

Sampling sites The location of sampling stations on Forde Guyot is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Forde Guyot, showing the position (with station number) of DTIS and SEL tows, and a CTD cast.

Transect descriptions Forde: Stn 003, str0002_1. Depth Range: 1005 – 1012 m. Flat relief mostly sand with ripples. Gravel and course material in the ripples. Two areas of bedrock (lava) with overlying sand and coral rubble. Very low abundance of fauna, but occasional asteroids and two majid crabs, a few rattails. Forde: Stn 004, str0003_3. Depth Range: 968 – 993 m. Overall rippled sand along most of transect, often very defined with consistent and fine grain size. Initially some gravel, with increasing bedrock (lava) and large patches of coral rubble. Frequent tracks in sand, occasional echinoids, asteroids, hydroids, sponge & scaphopods. Also chrysogorgid gorgonians (particularly Metallogorgia ), Etmopterus sharks, and sponges towards end. Forde: Stn 005, str0003_1. Depth Range: 1004 – 1063 m. Flat sandy bottom. Tracks common in sand, some ripples, burrows. Invertebrates included scaphopods, asteroids, Tam O’shanters, prawns. Some rattails. Forde: Stn 006, str0001_4. Depth Range: 1080 – 1400 m. Mix of bedrock with sand overlay, sandy-patches with some coral rubble. Early on, live stony coral and coral rubble patches amidst bedrock. Frequent sponges (esp. stalked), gorgonians

14

(including Metallogorgia, Iridogorgia ), black corals and crinoids. A few rattails, sharks, echinoderms on sandy bottom, some tracks and burrows. Forde: Stn 009, str0004_2. Depth Range: 1110 – 1172 m. Gradual slope upwards. A mix of bedrock outcrops with sand overlay and coral rubble. Other areas of muddy sediments, gravel and coral rubble. Intact coral, with live patches around 1100m. Frequent crinoids, with gorgonians and echinoids. Forde: Stn 011, str0003_2. Depth Range: 1038 – 1082 m. Downhill slope, predominantly soft sand with ripple. Occasional bedrock (lava) outcrops with coral rubble and some intact coral with brisingids and crinoids. Low abundance of invertebrates on the sand, occasional asteroids and urchins. Forde: Stn 012, str0001_3. Depth Range: 1280 – 1374 m. Bedrock and boulder outcrops, sand patches, coral rubble, high rough relief. Numerous crinoids, stalked crinoids, Bathypathes, Metallogorgia and gorgonians. Few intact corals, some live at the start, some sea pens on sandy patches. Forde: Stn 013, str0001_2. Depth Range: 1289 – 1382 m. Bedrock and sandy bottom substrate. Numerous crinoids (stalked & non-stalked). Large sections of coral intact/rubble, with frequent live coral heads at 1350-80 m. Gorgonians common, particularly Metallogorgia , with black corals, cup corals, sponges, and a Dumbo octopus. DTIS became snagged at end of tow, free after 1.5 hrs. Forde: Stn 017, str0001_2. Depth Range: 1154 – 1330 m. No stills recovered due to camera problem. Started on summit with sand and coral rubble. Down slope there were bedrock outcrops with areas of intact coral, many crinoids, some chrysogorgiids and occasional Bathypathes . Patches of sand with coral rubble and sand overlay on bedrock. Occasional sea pens. Forde: Stn 018, str0001_1. Depth Range: 1163 – 1584 m. Intact live coral on the summit at 1163 m. Sand patches with rubble and giant forams. Just off the summit at 1174 m, live intact coral, brisingids, urchins, Anthomastus and large numbers of crinoids. Isolated bedrock outcrops during rest of transect with live intact coral and crinoids. Forde: Stn 019, str0004_1. Depth Range: 1158 – 1306 m. Intact coral with brisingids and crinoids on bedrock, some Bathypathes . Expansive areas of sand with varying amounts of coral rubble. Crinoids very abundant. Forde: Stn 020, str0002_2. Depth Range: 1195 -1298 m. Patchy distribution of live and dead intact stony coral, crinoids, sandy areas throughout most of the transect, outcrops of rock with gorgonians. Trawl warp at 1298m. Forde: Stn 021, str0003_4. Depth Range: 998 – 1031 m. Mostly sand and ripples of varying proportions, numerous tusk shells), shrimps, echinoids, asteroids. A Platymaia crab, basketwork eels. Sparse fauna. Forde: Stn 022, str0004_3. Depth Range: 1158 – 1306 m. Generally sand, ripples and occasional boulders, some large areas of coral rubble half way into the transect. Tusk shells, tracks. Forde: Stn 023, str001_6.

15

Depth Range: 1067 – 1070 m. All rippled sand, tusk shells, tracks, shrimps, asteroids, echinoids, occasional fish. Forde: Stn 024, str0004_4. Depth Range: 1050 – 1060 m. Most of the substrate was rippled sand, gradual slope upwards. Scarce fauna (asteroids, fish, giant foraminifera). A few small areas of coral rubble, intact dead coral with abundant crinoids, also on bedrock. Forde: Stn 025, str0002_4. Depth Range: 1350 – 1443 m. Traversed over two conical features on the SE end of Forde. Substrate was a mix of areas of rippled sand and large areas of bare bedrock. Boulders on southern slopes had some black and gorgonian corals, and sponges. Abundant yellow crinoids. Coral rubble and dead stony coral matrix (intact) observed near summit with large aggregations of urchins. Forde: Stn 026, str0001_5. Depth Range: 1000 – 1022 m. Mostly rippled sand with two isolated rocky outcrops. Sparse fauna. Forde: Stn 027, str0002_3. Depth Range: 1027 – 1073 m. Area observed was mostly flat ~ 80 % rippled sand with occasional bedrock. Coral rubble near bedrock and about a dozen small clumps of living scleractinian matrix with crinoids and some gorgonians were also observed. Forde: Stn 028, str0003_4 (Forde Summit) Depth Range: 945 – 1000 m. Tow was from the SW side of the top, over the summit of the small peak. Revealed a mix of dead scleractinian matrix, sand and light coloured bedrock. After reaching the base, substrate changed to rippled sand. Scarce megafauna: few fish, echinoid, and sea pens.

Selected still images from DTIS of this seamount are given in Figure 7.

Forde Guyot summary Forde is an elongated guyot, oriented NW-SE. The summit plateau is a large flat area at depths of 1000-1100 m, dropping steeply away from 1150 m. The flanks are deeply incised with gulleys and ridges. The summit region is predominantly sandy substrate, with tusk shells, gastropods, and scattered echinoderms. At the plateau edge, and down the upper flanks, there was exposed bedrock with sand, and intact coral. Most was dead, but there were scattered live clumps (mainly thought at the time to be Goniocorella dumosa , but most likely Solenosmilia variabilis ). The northern flank had areas of more extensive coral cover, more frequent live clumps, with abundant associated crinoids and brisingid seastars. Gorgonians (in particular Metallogorgia ) were also common, although not abundant. Urchins ( Caenopedina ) were dense in some areas, especially the northern flanks, in association with the intact stony corals. The northern sites would likely meet criteria for VME habitat.

16

A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 7: Forde seamount. A, stalked sponge (Porifera) at 1268 m; B, hexactinellid sponge, ophiuroids, and crinoids at 1265 m; C, sea star ( Zoroaster sp.) at 1108 m; D, chrysogorgiid coral at 1462 m; E, coral and echinoderm complex at 1175 m; F, brisingid sea star and crinoids at 1365 m; G, chrysogorgiid coral with attached sponge at 1444 m; H, black coral ( Bathypathes sp.) at 1426 m.

17

VME taxa distribution

The distribution of key VME taxa along DTIS transects is shown in Figures 8 to 13.

Figure 8: The distribution of Scleractinian (stony) corals on Forde Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 9: The distribution of Antipatherian (black) corals on Forde Guyot (OFOP data).

18

Figure 10: The distribution of Gorgonian (octo) corals on Forde Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 11: The distribution of brisingid seastars on Forde Guyot (OFOP data).

19

Figure 12: The distribution of crinoids (featherstars) on Forde Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 13: The distribution of Porifera (sponges) on Forde Guyot (OFOP data).

20

CenSeam Guyot

Sampling sites The location of sampling stations on CenSeam Guyot is shown in Figure 14.

Figure 14: CenSeam Guyot, showing the position (with station number) of DTIS and SEL tows, and a CTD cast.

Transect descriptions CenSeam, Stn 033, str0001_6 Depth Range: 1036 – 1075 m. Patches of bedrock with sand overlay, sandy bottom with ripples, gravel – coral rubble, occasional dead intact coral. Tusk shells, echinoid tests, tracks, Cerianthus , with occasional intact coral on exposed rocks, small live clumps. CenSeam, Stn 034, str0005_1. Depth Range: 1020 – 1075 m. Transect upwards along slope, mainly sand & ripples with some coral rubble A few patches of intact dead coral matrix. Bedrock mostly barren with a few urchins. No apparent live corals observed. CenSeam, Stn 035, str0004_3 Depth Range: 966 – 978 m. 95% rippled sand cover, only megafauna seen were a few asteroids, tusk shells, and a few fish. Observed a large area of dead coral rubble and matrix with no significant epifauna. CenSeam, Stn 036, str0001_3. Depth Range: 995 – 999 m. 100% rippled sand, very flat, very sparse fauna. Occasional asteroid, ophiuroid, tusk shell, gastropod, rattail.

21

CenSeam, Stn 037, str0003_3. Depth Range: 945 – 955 m. 100% rippled sand, mostly flat with a single ~5 m deep depression. Sparse fauna, one red Chaceon crab, several echinoids, pagurids, sharks, and Tam O’shanters. CenSeam, Stn 038, str0002_2. Depth Range: 1006 – 1018 m. Flat area, substrate predominately rippled sand plus a mix of coral rubble, bedrock outcrops and few patches of intact dead scleractinian matrix. Single live coral clump. CenSeam, Stn 039, str0002_1. Depth Range: 982 – 996 m. Predominantly sand, ripples, several trawl tracks. Occasional live coral colonies on bedrock with sand overlay. Scattered typical soft benthic fauna (tusk shells, crinoids, echinoids asteroids, burrows, tracks, gastropods, Cerianthus , worms. CenSeam, Stn 040, str0004_1. Depth Range: 1021 – 1052 m. Flat region, bottom type changing from sand, ripples, shell hash, coral rubble, bedrock, sand overlay throughout transect. Some intact dead coral, no live. Invertebrates included asteroids, sea pens, scaphopods, urchins, gastropods. Scattered rattails, Lepidion and basketwork eel. CenSeam, Stn 041, str0004_2 Depth Range: 985 – 1077 m. Flat slope, largely rippled sand. Regular fauna of urchins, asteroids, scaphopods, cup-coral, cerianthids, gastropods. Burrows, tracks. CenSeam, Stn 042, str0003_1. Depth Range: 974 – 999 m. Sandy bottom. Typical benthic fauna with tracks, burrows, echinoids (particularly Tam O’Shanters), asteroids, pagurids, sponge, scaphopods, sea pens, gastropods, sea pens, zoanthids, Cerianthus . CenSeam, Stn 043, str0001_2. Depth Range: 965 – 970 m. Mostly on soft flat sediment. Occasional bedrock outcrops with Anthomastus . At the end of the transect there was some exposed bedrock and coral rubble. CenSeam, Stn 044, str0003_2. Depth Range: 980 – 986 m. Mostly flat sand. Some coral rubble and intact matrix. Very sparse fauna. CenSeam, Stn 045, str0001_1 Depth Range: 1000 – 1034 m. Sand, ripples, rubble, with small isolated patches of bedrock with some intact coral and coral rubble. Few invertebrates, some asteroids, gastropods, Cerianthids, tusk shells. No stills taken by the DTIS CenSeam: Stn 046, str0002_4 Depth Range: 1064 – 1154 m. Landed 1145, tow upslope and over rise. Bedrock and sand, not a lot of epifauna. Some live stony coral (small clumps), Metallogorgia , sponges. Abundant coral rubble. Small numbers of crinoids, gorgonians, sponges, with a few areas of intact coral, one live. CenSeam: Stn 049, str0001_target. Depth Range: 994 – 1255 m. For most of transect, sandy bottom, ripples, with bedrock patches. Typical soft sediment epifauna (tusk shells, echinoids, asteroids, tracks, burrows, tube worms, Cerianthids , gastropods, holothurians, eels, shark. Video was paused for 18 mins to drop off slopes. Abundant dead coral with dense Caenopedina urchins. Scattered primnoids, crinoids, sponges. Metallogorgia at very end, with expanses of dead intact coral.

22

CenSeam: Stn 050, str0001_4. Depth Range: 994 – 1117 m. Gradual slope down, sandy initially with usual tusks, urchins etc. Then bedrock with sandy overlay, coral rubble and intact coral in places. Sparse fauna. CenSeam: Stn 051, str0002_3. Depth Range: 945 – 957 m. Flat rippled sandy bottom. Moved up slightly sloping seabed. gastropods common, particularly in the first half of transect. Sparse fauna otherwise. CenSeam: Stn 052, str0003_4 Depth Range: 959 – 967 m. 100% sand, very flat and featureless seafloor. Scattered asteroids, echinoids, gastropods, but generally sparse fauna. CenSeam: Stn 053, str0001_5. Depth Range: 976 – 981 m. Transect totally sandy bottom, very few animals observed. CenSeam: Stn 054, str0004_4. Depth Range: 1066 – 1470 m. Southern flank of CenSeam Guyot. First half was sand, after that steep terrain, bedrock outcrops with Bathypathes, Metallogorgia , echinoids, gorgonians, crinoids. CenSeam: Stn 055, str0005_2. Depth Range: 1029 – 1054 m. Bedrock with sand overlay, flat bottom. Patches of coral rubble, little intact coral, some small clumps of living scleractinia with crinoids and brisingids. One orange roughy. CenSeam: Stn 056, str0004_Target. Depth Range: 950 – 1009 m. This transect targeted an unusual mark near the seafloor on the single-beam echo-sounder. Sandy substrate gives way to dominant coral rubble and intact (all dead). Tusk shells on sand at beginning, Tam O’Shanter, gastropods. Then brisingid and crinoids. Short transect.

Selected still images from DTIS of this seamount are given in Figure 15.

CenSeam Guyot summary

This guyot was fully multibeamed, as there was little coverage prior to this voyage. It was given the working name of “CenSeam Guyot” during the trip, in recognition of the Census of Marine Life on Seamounts (acronym CenSeam) that was a major international field programme under the Census of Marine Life.

The main plateau of this guyot is at 950–1050 m depth. From 1100 m it drops steeply away, like Forde with numerous gulleys and ridges down its flanks. Most sampling effort was on the plateau itself, where the substrate was predominantly rippled sand, with scaphopods and gastropods, urchins and asteroids. Bedrock patches frequently had sand overlay, and in general only small clumps of live coral were found. The northwestern corner of the guyot had more life, with intact coral, live coral patches, and a high density of urchins.

23

A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 15: CenSeam Guyot. A, sea urchins ( Caenopedina porphyrogigas ) at 1059 m; B, pennatulacean sea pen at 1032 m; C, crinoids and corals at 1031 m; D, alcyonacean soft coral at 969 m; E, echinothurioid sea urchin at 950 m; F, holothuroid (sea cucumber) at 1009 m; G, scorpionfish at 950 m; H, black coral ( Bathypathes sp.) and sea urchin ( Gracilechinus multidentatus ) at 1377 m.

24

VME taxa distribution

The distribution of key VME taxa along DTIS transects is shown in Figures 16 to 21.

Figure 16: The distribution of Scleractinian (stony) corals on CenSeam Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 17: The distribution of Antipatherian (black) corals on CenSeam Guyot (OFOP data).

25

Figure 18: The distribution of Gorgonian (octo) corals on CenSeam Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 19: The distribution of brisingid seastars on CenSeam Guyot (OFOP data).

26

Figure 20: The distribution of crinoids (featherstars) on CenSeam Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 21: The distribution of Porifera (sponges) on CenSeam Guyot (OFOP data).

27

Anvil Seamount

Sampling sites The location of sampling stations on Anvil Seamount is shown in Figure 22.

Figure 22: Anvil Seamount, showing the position (with station number) of DTIS and SEL tows, and CTD cast.

Transect descriptions Anvil Guyot: Stn 060, str0001. Depth Range: 1189 – 1205 m. Gentle downhill slope, rippled sand with white cobbles. Then change to patches of exposed bedrock, coral rubble with live scleractinian matrix. Abundant urchins, crinoids and brisingids on live corals. Anvil Guyot: Stn 061, str0001. Depth Range: 1138 – 1152 m. Flat, all rippled sand, low epifaunal abundance and diversity, Gracilechinus urchins, some asteroids, and scaphopods. Anvil Guyot: Stn 062, str0004. Depth Range: 1135 – 1142 m. 100% rippled sand, a few urchins and fish. Sparse fauna. Anvil Guyot: Stn 063, str0001. Depth Range: 1230 – 1418 m. Initially sand, changing to bedrock, coral rubble and intact coral patches. Bedrock with stony coral clumps, with gorgonians and crinoids. Solitary gorgonians, black coral, with patches of denser sponges and echinoids. Tam O Shanters, gastropods, sea pens, sea stars on soft

28

sediment. No realtime OFOP position data from this station until computer problem fixed station 081. Anvil Guyot: Stn_064, str 0001 Depth Range: 1237 – 1495 m. First half of transect dominated by sandy bottom with many Gracilochinus , sea stars and sponges. Then intermittent bedrock or sand and ripples, with stony coral clumps (some live) with Dermechinus . Diverse scattered gorgonians, black coral, sponges, crinoids. 1300m on bedrock clumps of gorgonians ( Chrysogorgia & cf. Corallium ). Then drops away into dead coral zone, with urchins and scattered gorgonians. No realtime OFOP position data. Anvil Guyot: Stn_065, str. 0003 Depth Range: 1171 – 1192 m. Sandy fine grained bottom. Benthic fauna largely Gracilochinus , asteroids, some rattalis. At 1182 m bedrock, with sand overlay. Dead intact coral and rubble with some fish, tusk shells and sharks. Sandy bottom from 1200m. No realtime OFOP position data. Anvil Guyot: Stn_067, str. 0005 Depth Range: 1047 – 1104 m. Moved down slope over a previously fished area. Bottom comprised sand and coral rubble with several patches of exposed bedrock. Areas of low flat bedrock with sandy overlay, occasional Bathypathes , urchins ( Dermechinus ), gorgonians, stylasterids, crinoids, Chaceon crab and orange roughy. Expanses of dead coral rubble and sand between bedrock areas. No realtime OFOP position data. Anvil Guyot: Stn_068, str.0001 Depth Range: 1162 – 1528 m. Flat sand for the first 15 min, then bedrock with sand overlay as the drop off commenced. Steady descent for the most of the deployment with bedrock outcrops/boulders and sand patches. Small clumps of intact stony coral with crinoids, gorgonians, crinoids. Anvil Guyot: Stn_069, str. 0002 Depth Range: 1203 – 1196 m. Rippled sand sediment with ripples, and occasional urchin. Generally very low abundance and diversity of invertebrates. Anvil Guyot: Stn_070, str.0004 Depth Range: 1090 – 1099 m. Relatively flat bottom, predominantly rippled sand. Some bedrock areas with benthic fauna including stony coral (some live), gorgonians ( Iridogorgia ), brisingids, soft corals and crinoids Anvil Guyot: Stn_071, str.0003 Depth Range: 1150 – 1153 m. Initially sand, ripples with mixed bedrock, boulders, intact and coral rubble. Some sponges, crabs, eel, shark and rattail. After 13 minutes, DTIS gets snagged, connection lost, transect aborted Anvil Guyot: Stn_072, str.0003 Depth Range: 1157 – 1179 m. Continuation of previous transect (Stn_071). Sandy with gravel overlay and more prominent ripples indicative of a stronger bottom current. Urchins ( Gracilochinus ), tusk shells, natant decapods, scattered crabs and cerianthids. At 1169 m towards the end of the transect, bedrock with some live stony coral colonies. Then back to rock overlain with sand for remainder of transect, some shall hash. Anvil Guyot: Stn_073, str.0002 Depth Range: 1285 – 1389 m. Summit of Anvil. Start at 1285m, over top at 1280m, then drop down and rise again before dropping further to 1338m. Bottom type predominantly bedrock, sandy overlay with regions of sand, ripples, cobbles, pebbles, and gravel-like sediment. Around the summit were bedrock

29

outcrops, with intact stony coral (live), gorgonians, flute-like glass sponges, urchins and crinoids. From 1350m, dead intact coral, with black coral. Heading back up slope bedrock, sandy overlay, coral intact & rubble, with stony coral clumps, crinoids, urchins and sponges.

Selected still images from DTIS of this seamount are given in Figure 23.

Anvil Seamount summary Anvil is a striking dumbbell-shaped seamount with strong lateral ridges to the east and west of the main axis. It has two definite peaks, joined by an elongated ridge. It had been swath-mapped by the Sonne , and this was not repeated during the survey in order to save time. We sampled only the southern peak, due to the large size if we were to try and sample both. The summit is relatively flat-topped, with a gradual shallowing from the flank edge at 1250 m up to 1100 m. The seamount has only been lightly trawled, with some tows in the southwestern sector. The flat top is largely sandy substrate, with ripples in places indicating areas of strong current flow. The flanks drop away steeply from about 1250 m, and over the edge was hard exposed bedrock, with intact (dead) coral, as well as scattered live clumps of Solenosmilia . Densities were generally low, and no areas of VME were identified.

30

A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 23: Anvil seamount. A, live and dead sea urchins ( Gracilechinus multidentatus ) at 1149 m; B, brisingid asteroids amongst coral matrix ( Solenosmila variabilis ) at 1259 m; C, plexaurid coral with crinoids and ophiuroids at 1267 m; D, xenophyophores at 1182 m; E, hexactinellid sponge, scleractinian corals, and crinoids at 1200 m; F, pagurid hermit crab at 1490 m; G, scaphopod tusk shell with hermit crab at 1150 m; H, basketwork eel ( Diastobranchus capensis ) at 1387 m.

31

VME taxa distribution

The distribution of key VME taxa along DTIS transects is shown in Figures 24 to 29.

Figure 24: The distribution of Scleractinian (stony) corals on Anvil Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 25: The distribution of Antipatherian (black) corals on Anvil Seamount (OFOP data).

32

Figure 26: The distribution of Gorgonian (octo) corals on Anvil Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 27: The distribution of brisingid seastars on Anvil Seamount (OFOP data).

33

Figure 28: The distribution of crinoids (featherstars) on Anvil Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 29: The distribution of Porifera (sponges) on Anvil Seamount (OFOP data).

34

39 South Seamount

Sampling sites The location of sampling stations on 39South Seamount is shown in Figure 30.

Figure 30: 39 South Seamount, showing the position (with station number) of DTIS and SEL tows, and a CTD cast.

Transect descriptions 39º South: Stn_078, str.0004 Depth Range: 1081 – 1105 m. Flat sandy substrate with some cup corals, Cerianthids, forams and tracks. 39º South: Stn_079, str.0001 Depth Range: 1236 – 1269 m. Predominantly sand with animal tracks, some intermittent bedrock with occasional glass sponges. Some intact dead coral on bedrock halfway through, and small amounts at end. Sparse fauna 39º South: Stn_080, str.0004 Depth Range: 1197 – 1222 m. Gradual slope, mixed substrate types: rippled sand and bedrock outcrops. Rocks were generally barren except for a few anemones, sponges, crinoids, seastars and urchins. Two clumps of stony coral, possible live. 39º South: Stn_081, str.0001 Depth Range: 1052 – 1241 m. Sandy bottom, intermittent bedrock with sandy overlay. Usual array of worms, tusk shells, gastropods, tracks and burrows in soft sediment. Occasional anemones, natant decapods,

35

seastars, sponge, forams, black corals. A basketwork eel, morid, shark, rattails. 30 minutes in at 1090m some stony coral rubble, possible a clump of live stony coral. 39º South: Stn_082, str.0003 Depth Range: 961 – 969 m. Transect entirely sandy, with ripples. Typical epifauna including gastropods, tusk shells, small brittle stars, cerianthids, worms, Tam O Shanter urchins. 39º South: Stn_083, str.0004 Depth Range: 900 – 930 m. Flat bottom. Sand ripples interspersed with patches of boulders, bedrock. Tracks, burrows, some worms and gastropods. Some extensive areas of coral rubble in 900-910 m. Some bedrock with large holaxonian gorgonians, black coral, soft coral and sponges. Fish over soft sediment included several halosaurs, sharks, rattails and two Chaunacidae. 39º South: Stn_084, str.0001 Depth Range: 1070 – 1158 m. Initial area of bedrock with sand overlay, and then rippled sand, regularly changing between the two bottom types. Following a drop-off, at 1077 m was a patch of intact live stony coral and coral rubble, with sponges, crinoids, brisingids and anemones on bedrock patches. On soft sediment were frequent worms, as well as tusk shells and gastropods. 39º South: Stn_085, str.0005 Depth Range: 983 – 1012 m. 100% sandy rippled, with very occasional asteroids, cerianthids, several forams. 39º South: Stn_086, str.0005 Depth Range: 1136 – 1605 m. Steeper slope with a 500 m steep descent, substrate was a combination of rippled sand and barren bedrock beds and outcrops. Observed a few small gorgonians, sponges and possibly a small clump of live stony coral matrix. Abundant intact dead coral as well as echinoids on bedrock. Metallogorgia and Anthomastus present. 39º South: Stn_087, str.0003 Depth Range: 983 – 995 m. Virtually flat seafloor with sand and ripples. Very occasional asteroids, gorgonians, gastropods and forams. One Lithodes crab. No bedrock, rubble or coral. 39º South: Stn_088, str.0005 Depth Range: 1020 – 1092 m. Mostly sand, many ripples, with some small intermittent bedrock areas. Possible trawl marks (23:22, 1068 m), and a trawl warp within first 10 minutes. Some brisingids, gorgonians, soft corals, but sparse fauna throughout transect. Very long sea pen. 39º South: Stn_089, str.0004 Depth Range: 899 – 950 m. Initially sand, with some rubble and ripples, bedrock after ~5 mins with Paragorgia /Corallidae, black coral, fluffy gorgonians, primnoids, Iridogorgia . Stony corals attached to toppled/collapsed Corallidae/Paragorgiid at 901 m, 6 min). Transect mostly sand with intermittent bedrock, sand overlay, coral rubble and occasional intact dead coral. Benthic fauna include tam o shanters, stylasterids, with worms, tusk shells gastropods on soft sediment. Still shots reveal considerable quantities of cup corals and small stylasterids. 39º South: Stn_090, str.0004 Depth Range: 1467 – 1573 m. Transect dominated by bedrock with sandy overlay, sand and ripples in between rock. Scattered gorgonians, black corals, numerous sponges (hexactinellid flute sponges). Diverse but scattered fauna elsewhere. 39º South: Stn_093, str.0001 Depth Range: 1081 – 1100 m.

36

Mostly rippled sand with abundant cup corals, several patches of bedrock with live stony coral matrix and brisingids, crinoids, gorgonians. Several bedrock patches with gorgonians Thouarella, Iridogorgia , large primnoids, possibly Paramuricea, and black corals. Steep drop- off/cliff at end of transect. 39º South: Stn_094, str.0004 Depth Range: 1030 – 1073 m. Interesting transect. Frequent patches of coral rubble and intact coral, sand and sandy overlay on bedrock. Many stony coral colonies with crinoids, brisingids, sponges and numerous gorgonians (including Thouarella , Primnoids, Paragorgia /Corallidae) and black coral. Clumps generally small (<0.5m). Regular tiny patches of the purple soft coral (see sled 091) on coral rubble. Coral rubble often very dense. Tusk shells, sea pens, pagurids, sea stars, forams, tracks, gastropods, Farreid sponges etc on sand. Fish included Halosauropsis , basketwork eel, Orange roughy, Oreo, Lepidion and sharks. 39º South: Stn_095, str.0003 Depth Range: 1063 – 1093 m. Brief area of bedrock early on at 1080 m, with a Lepidion , live stony coral, coral rubble. Also Bathypathes , sponges, crinoids, brisingids, gorgonians (including primnoids, Thouarella , Paramuricea ). Remainder of transect predominantly sand and ripples, with worms, tusk shells, burrows, tracks, forams. 39º South: Stn_096, str.0001 Depth Range: 1066 – 1340 m. Initially sandy bottom, with sparse fauna-worms, tusk shells, holothurians, abundant forams in places. Bedrock and sandy overlay for the latter half of the transect with steep dropoffs from 1150 – 1340 m. Sparse, but fauna included crinoids, sponges, gorgonians (particularly 1315 m), large stalked sea pen, and occasional fish.

Selected still images from DTIS of this seamount are given in Figure 31.

39 South summary 39South is similar to CenSeam Guyot in its general shape, although is shallower. It is flat- topped, the summit at about 880 m. The top rolls over sharply at 1100–1150 m. The guyot has been trawled, mainly on the northern flanks. The summit area was typically soft sediment, with burrows, tracks, gastropods, scaphopods, worms, giant forams, and scattered tam o shanter urchins. There was more exposed bedrock and boulders on transects extending down the flanks of the seamount, but typically only small clumps of live coral. The densest patches were on the northwestern side, along a valley-feature at about 1050 m. These corals had the usual associates of crinoids, brisingid seastars, with gorgonian and black corals and glass sponges. Tow 94 was the only one where we evaluated the coral clumps reached “VME density”.

37

A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 31: 39 South seamount. A, goniasterid asteroid at 959 m; B, primnoid coral at 920 m; C, primnoid gorgonian coral, alcyonacean soft coral, and stylasterid corals at 905 m; D, trawl warp at 1071 m; E, cidarid sea urchin (Poriocidaris purpurata ) at 901 m; F, gorgonian coral at 900 m; G, species complex including a gastropod mollusc, plexaurid, scleractinian, and alcyonacean corals at 901 m; H, brisingid asteroid and small corals including scleractinian cup corals at 904 m.

38

VME taxa distribution

The distribution of key VME taxa along DTIS transects is shown in Figures 32 to 37.

Figure 32: The distribution of Scleractinian (stony) corals on 39South Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 33: The distribution of Antipatherian (black) corals on 39South Seamount (OFOP data).

39

Figure 34: The distribution of Gorgonian (octo) corals on 39South Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 35: The distribution of brisingid seastars on 39South Seamount (OFOP data).

40

Figure 36: The distribution of crinoids (featherstars) on 39South Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 37: The distribution of Porifera (sponges) on 39South Seamount (OFOP data).

41

Ghost Seamount

Sampling sites The location of sampling stations on Ghost Seamount is shown in Figure 38.

Figure 38: Ghost Seamount, showing the position (with station number) of DTIS and SEL tows, and CTD cast.

Transect descriptions Ghost Seamount: Stn_100, str.0004 Depth Range: 645 – 1022 m. Transect down slope from the summit of a conical feature on top of the seamount, NW direction. Bottom was a mix of sand and large areas of coral rubble, with patches of intact coral. Sparse benthic fauna, scattered fishes, but generally barren. Suggestive of trawling. Substrate changed to rippled sediment at base of conical feature. Ghost Seamount: Stn_101, str.0005 Depth Range: 916 – 1088 m. Transect passed over two distinct features (depth ~855 – 1100 m), lots of intact coral (some areas 100% cover), coral rubble and sand. Most numerous benthic organisms were pagurids and gastropods. Numerous sharks, brisingids, sponges and crinoids. Fishing gear 10 min in. Scattered fishes observed. Ghost Seamount: Stn_102, str.0003 Depth Range: 1005 – 1107 m. Gently ascending transect (1107 – 1005 m) across rippled sand. Very low faunal abundance but including forams, seastars, pagurids, rattails, red spider crab. Ghost Seamount: Stn_103, str.0005 Depth Range: 730 – 918 m.

42

Started on side of the mound, went up and over continuing on to the base. Substrate predominantly rubble with large areas of intact coral (dead). Some frequent gorgonians, and brisingids Other fauna scattered and typically sparse. Ghost Seamount: Stn_104, str.0004 Depth Range: 632 – 930 m. Initially coral rubble, on bedrock, increasing sandy-gravel patches with intermittent bedrock.. Possible trawl scours on bedrock, occasional trawl track and line. Lots of oreos, stripy rattail, morids. Benthic epifauna comprised some isidid gorgonians, initially numerous cup corals, patches of anemones, and generally abundant gastropods. Ghost Seamount: Stn_105, str.0003 Depth Range: 910 – 1117 m. Transect starts at 1117 m up the slope to the top of the hill at 910 m, then heads down slope in NW direction to 1100 m, then up to ~1000 m. The south side of the hill consisted of bedrock with sand, coral rubble and intact coral. Very dense low coral matrix. Brisingids and crinoids common towards the top of the knoll, with frequent gastropods and demosponges. Beyond the knoll intact coral and coral rubble dominated as headed NW. After dropping to 1100 m substrate dominated by sand, with pagurids, demosponges, tusk shells, seastars, anemones, worms, with some rattails. Ghost Seamount: Stn_106, str.0003 Depth Range: 958 – 992 m. Flat sandy bottom, ripples, some gravel. Epibenthic fauna comprised gastropods, pagurids, seastars, brittle stars. Some tracks and burrows. Sparse fish, including flatfish Ghost Seamount: Stn_107, str.0003 Depth Range: 761 – 980 m. Transect line over hill, 831 – 980 m. Top of hill 766 m. Initially on bedrock then a dominance of coral rubble, some coral intact and sand, but mostly very dense rubble up the slope. After coming over the top, more coral that persisted along most of the transect. Southern and northern flanks had demosponges, brisingids, crinoids, cup corals and primnoids associated with rocky outcrops. Sandy regions had gastropods, worms, tusk shells, tam o shanter, pagurids Ghost Seamount: Stn_108, str.0003 Depth Range: 1299 – 1393 m. Substrate was sand with occasional ripples and more muddy sediment with tracks. Occasional small regions of bedrock, mostly with a heavy sand overlay and little fauna. Sandy habitat had low numbers of asteroids, natant decapods, and forams. Ghost Seamount: Stn_109, str.0004 Depth Range: 1041 – 1067 m. Fairly flat transect, mostly rippled sand. Some individual boulders, with brisingids, some anemones, crinoids, possible live coral clump at 1045 m. Low abundance of fauna. Several straight depressions in the sand noted, possibly trawl marks. Ghost Seamount: Stn_110, str.0001 Depth Range: 940 – 1050 m. Majority of transect rippled sand with tracks. Small area of intact coral towards end with sponges. Low faunal abundance, scattered brisingid and crinoids on bedrock boulders. Typical sand fauna comprised forams, pagurids, gastropods, seastars, shrimps and cerianthids. Fish mostly rattails. Ghost Seamount: Stn_113, str.0004 Depth Range: 730 – 915 m. This deployment targeted a depth of 730 m on the eastern flank of a cone feature. It traversed across in a northerly direction and down slope to a depth of 915 m. Initially; substrate was a mix of craggy broken pale bedrock, intact coral and coral rubble, with scattered brisingids. Lower down slope there was evidence of trawl marks in areas of coral rubble and sand.

43

Towards the base of the feature substrate was sand with pagurids and gastropods (many dead shells). Ghost Seamount: Stn_114, str.0001 Depth Range: 922 – 1092 m. Initially sandy gravel, then substantial increase in coral rubble and intact coral. Large numbers of crinoids and brisingids on dead intact coral, some orange roughy and occasional rattails. From 1050 m sandy substrate, with high density of worms, with forams, cerianthids, tam o shanters, pagurids, gastropods, tusk shells, tracks and burrows. Ghost Seamount: Stn_115, str.0001 Depth Range: 1056 – 1385 m. Transect started with sand and ripples with an abundance of worms and burrows, occasional gastropods, shrimps, forams and cerianthids. Gradual ascent with bedrock, coral rubble and gorgonians, primarily Thouarella . Intact corals with brisingids and crinoids. From 1300 m substrate predominantly sand with a few worms and tusk shells, with fish including orange roughy. Ghost Seamount: Stn_117, str.0005 Depth Range: 1067 – 1276 m. Start at the side of the hill, up into the crater, out and down the other side (701 – 1067 m). Mostly sand/rubble. Several areas of intact coral and some bedrock. Low faunal abundance, predominantly fish: lots of rattails, shark and cardinal fish Ghost Seamount: Stn_118, str.0005 Depth Range: 687 – 955 m. Went over 3 mounds, a complex transect predominantly rubble, bedrock and/or boulders, some intact coral. First half of the transect had many zoanthids and epizoanthids. Abundant brisingids and some black coral (including Leiopathes ) Ghost Seamount: Stn_119, str.0003 Depth Range: 873 – 963 m. Transect over the summit of the hill and down, along the side of the adjacent hill (~814-1005 m). Started with mixed substrate of rubble (some intact), cobbles, sand and bedrock then moved into rubble and sand, then finally ended on hard bedrock for last 10 min. Scattered gorgonians, brisingids and crinoids on the hard substrate, gastropods on soft sediment. Ghost Seamount: Stn_120, str.0001 Depth Range: 873 – 1151 m. Sandy bottom initially, then rapid change to dense patches of coral rubble, some intact coral in places. A dense school of cardinal fish, Epigonus telescopus at 881 m, some orange roughy, The latter third of the transect was mainly rippled sand, with occasional bedrock and sand overlay. Diverse fauna, primarily pagurids and gastropods on soft sediment, with crinoids and brisingids on the coral rubble. Ghost Seamount: Stn_121, str.0004 Depth Range: 900 – 956 m. Ran up slope to 900 m then dropped over the side of the knoll to 956 m. Most of the line comprised sand, faunal tracks, some rubble. Gastropods and pagurids common, with some seastars, sponges, shrimps, rattails. Close to end of the transect some intact coral but mainly rubble. Ghost Seamount: Stn_122, str.0001 Depth Range: 1202 – 1254 m. Sand, few ripples initially with many small forams along with scattered gastropods, asteroids, sponges, shrimps, tusk shells, cerianthids, tracks and burrows. Areas of coral rubble and gravel with the occasional tam o shanter. Striking sections of bedrock-sand ripples/waves in the last 10 mins. Bedrock/boulders hosted gorgonians, brisingids, sponges, a single clump of live coral at 1254 m.

44

Ghost Seamount: Stn_123, str.0005 Depth Range: 955 – 1104 m. Mixed substrate types: sand, ripples, bedrock with a sandy overlay and some intact coral. Patches of dense coral rubble also. Soft sediment taxa mainly gastropods, forams, shrimps. Sponges, gastropods, pagurids, crinoids, brisingids, holothurians on hard substrate/rubble, and numerous orange roughy. Ghost Seamount: Stn_125, str.0001 Depth Range: 1011 – 1375 m. Transect started flat with rippled sand, then small patches of bedrock, as the slope increased down to 1375 m. Fauna included glass sponges, asteroids and tam o shanters, cerianthids, anemones, orange roughy and rattails. Ghost Seamount: Stn_126, str.0004 Depth Range: 718 – 945 Transect down side of a hill and continued along the flat (718 – 945 m). First half predominantly rubble/sand with some areas of bedrock. Gastropods abundant on soft sediment. Intact coral and one patch of Isididae (905 m) and some crinoids and demosponges. Ghost Seamount: Stn_127, str.0001 Depth Range: 1104 – 1195 m. Moved along the western slope of the ridge, with exposed bedrock, intact dead coral, several live stony coral with brisingids and crinoids. Giant lepidion at start. Scattered primnoid corals, black corals, glass sponges. Clumps of live stony coral at intervals throughout. Rippled sand at end of transect with forams, gastropods etc. Ghost Seamount: Stn_128, str.0002 Depth Range: 1321 – 1544 m. Transect along ridge on the northwestern edge of the seamount. Substratum was dominated by dense dead stony coral matrix and some rubble. High abundances of clumps of live scleractinians (VME) with crinoids, echinoids and sponges. Last stony coral observation at 1470 m. Transect continued down to (~1544 m) and intact dead coral continued on deeper. Ghost Seamount: Stn_129, str.0002 Depth Range: 1252 – 1509 m. Initial sand, with numerous cerianthids. Intermittent sand, bedrock with sandy overlay, boulders with coral intact and rubble. Numerous live stony coral colonies between 1279 – 1356 m with crinoids, some Dermechinus . Intact coral (though dead) down to 1505 m. Ghost Seamount: Stn_130, str.0002 Depth Range: 1305 – 1575 m. Initially bedrock, sandy overlay, coral rubble and intact coral. Fauna included sponges, asteroids, cerianthids, forams and gastropods. In bedrock areas, especially last 20 mins, crinoids and brisingids associated with the patches of intact and live stony coral. Ghost Seamount: Stn_131, str.0001 Depth Range: 11:79 – 1618 m. Transect run under DP. DTIS lowered to seafloor and recording started once movement detected. Initially very flat sandy bottom with distinct ripples and occasional worms, asteroids, rattails. Not much action, so video paused twice for several minutes to extend the run. At 1250 m moved on to bedrock with sand overlay and dropped steadily down to 1618 m over 20 min with scattered rattails, tusk shells, some crinoids and brisingids. Ghost Seamount: Stn_135, str.0002 Depth Range: 1407–1602 m. Landed at 1519 m on ridge to SW of spur, towing upslope to the northeast. Bedrock with sand overlay, until depth of 1487m, when some intact coral, with boulders/bedrock and sand interspaces. Scattered gorgonians. Extensive area of intact coral with live scleractinian heads from 1462 m up to the top of the ridge at 1407 m, and on northern side to 1422 m. Then bedrock,

45

some coral rubble, occasional sponges and crinoids, more bedrock with sand overlay. A small patch of intact coral clumps at 1508 m, then rippled sand. Stalked crinoid towards end of run at 1574 m.

Selected still images from DTIS of this seamount are given in Figure 39.

Ghost Seamount summary Ghost seamount is named after a small peak on its southern end. It has a very different structure to the more northern seamounts and guyots. The top is generally a flat plateau at 1050–1100 m, but has about 13 small volcanic plug-like hills rising from it. These are typically about 200 m high. They have been extensively fished. The hill features generally comprised exposed bedrock, with coral rubble. There were isolated patches of intact (dead) coral, with brisingid seastars, gorgonian and black corals. Trawl marks were often seen, which is only to be expected given the fishing history of this seamount. The flat and sloping areas of the summit plateau generally comprised softy sediment, with variable fauna. In places there were dense patches of worms, and giant forams. In some flank areas there were patches of scattered live clumps of stony coral, but the northwestern corner was the main site where extensive areas of intact coral were found. The narrow tongue-like extension drops from about 1300 m down to 1500 m with a cover of low but intact stony coral, with many live heads near the peak of the ridge. These extended down to 1470 m.

46

A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 39: Ghost seamount. A, conger eel ( Bassanago sp.) and zoanthid cnidarians at 664 m; B, tube- worms and sea cucumbers (holothuroids) at 1100 m; C, trawl warp with attached cup corals at 632 m; D, echinothurioid sea urchin ( Sperosoma sp.) at 984 m; E, brisingid sea-star and zoanthids at 671 m; F, crinoid and gastropod at 1068 m; G, coral and echinoderm species complex at 1119 m; H, yellowtail kingfish ( Seriola lalandi lalandi ) at 20 m.

47

VME taxa distribution

The distribution of key VME taxa along DTIS transects is shown in Figures 40 to 45.

Figure 40: The distribution of Scleractinian (stony) corals on Ghost Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 41: The distribution of Antipatherian (black) corals on Ghost Seamount (OFOP data).

48

Figure 42: The distribution of Gorgonian (octo) corals on Ghost Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 43: The distribution of brisingid seastars on Ghost Seamount (OFOP data).

49

Figure 44: The distribution of crinoids (featherstars) on Ghost Seamount (OFOP data).

Figure 45: The distribution of Porifera (sponges) on Ghost Seamount (OFOP data).

50

Valerie Guyot

Sampling sites The location of sampling stations on Valerie Guyot is shown in Figure 46.

Figure 46: Valerie Guyot, showing the position (with station number) of DTIS and SEL tows, and a CTD cast.

Transect descriptions Valerie Guyot: Stn139, str.0003 Depth Range: 862 – 926 m. Predominantly sandy and some ripples with occasional gravel, cobbles, boulders and bedrock with sandy overlay. Ophiuroids were dominant, with pagurids, gastropods, shrimps, asteroisds and tam o shanters, some forams, rattails. Numerous burrows and tracks. Valerie Guyot: Stn140, str.0005 Depth Range: 769 – 787 m. Relatively flat transect. Sand with some gravel, ophiuroids blanketing the bottom and numerous tracks. A few halosaurs. Scattered other fauna, diverse but not numerous. Valerie Guyot: Stn141, str.0004 Depth Range: 880 – 902 m. Most of the transect was over flat terrain, rippled sand with pebbles and a patch of coral rubble. Very sparse megafauna, some eels and small sharks. Valerie Guyot: Stn142, str.0001 Depth Range: 869 – 968 m.

51

Sand substrate with some gravel, blanketed with ophiuroids, tracks abundant. Trawl gear (warp) at start. Halosaurs most abundant fish, but also rattails, eels, scorpionfish, Valerie Guyot: Stn143, str.0001 Depth Range: 1085 – 1373 m. Initially rippled sand, with abundant forams, ophiuroids, tusk shells. Frequent bedrock patches, coral rubble and intact coral in places. Some live stony coral clumps on rocky outcrops at 1248 m to 1285 m. Sponges, brisingids. Valerie Guyot: Stn144, str.0001 Depth Range: 1081 – 1357 m. Mixed substrate along this transect, downslope was exposed bedrock with sand interspaces, with intact coral, and an orange roughy aggregation from ~1098 – 1195 m. Downslope further from 1200 m had clumps of live stony coral matrix, with brisingids and crinoids. Valerie Guyot: Stn145, str.0001 Depth Range: 1164 – 1360 m. No depth change for the first half an hour, with sand substrate. Epibenthic fauna consisted of forams, cerianthids, seastars, shrimps and urchins. From 1190 m, increasing bedrock and sandy overlay, small stony coral clumps with usual brisingids and crinoids. Valerie Guyot: Stn146, str.0003 Depth Range: 1351 – 1405 m. Sandy substrate throughout, mainly cerianthids and worms, with rattails the most common fish. Several extensive patches of dense small holothurians (almost transparent, clear in stills). Valerie Guyot: Stn147, str.0004 Depth Range: 1255 – 1544 m. Shallowest depth 1255 m at the top of the hill. Initially sand then bedrock around the summit. Large colonies of primnoid gorgonians on the summit. Bedrock with sandy overlay down to 1376 m then extensive intact dead coral and live stony coral clumps down to 1460 m. Dense patches of VME-like stony coral, with brisingids, crinoids, echinoids ( Dermechinus ), and sponges. Valerie Guyot: Stn148, str.0004 Depth Range: 1155 – 1515 m. Landed straight on a field of primnoids. Intermittent sandy bottom, with bedrock and sandy overlay. Towed upslope towards peak of hill, with scattered fauna. Approaching the summit were abundant live stony coral clumps, most frequent around summit, but patchy down to 1370 m. Video finished, but continued with stills Valerie Guyot: Stn149, str.0004 Depth Range: 1124 – 1474 m. Interesting transect, mixed substrate with sand, patches of intact coral and rubble, bedrock and boulders typically with live stony coral. Associated with crinoids and brisingids. Some orange roughy. Mixed other fauna including echinoids, ophiuroids, sponges. Valerie Guyot: Stn150, str.0004 Depth Range: 1135 – 1400 m. First part of the transect was predominantly rubble/sand/bedrock with areas of intact coral and patches of live scleractinia with brisingids and crinoids. Mid-transect was sandy with cerianthids and rattails. Then back into bedrock outcrops with intact coral, live stony coral, brisingids and crinoids. Valerie Guyot: Stn151, str.0001 Depth Range: 1210 – 1623 m. Steep transect (1210 – 1623 m), predominantly sandy substrate, with some smaller areas of sand/bedrock. Cerianthids were the most abundant invertebrate, other fauna sparse but diverse. Valerie Guyot: Stn152, str.0004 Depth Range: 1245 – 1281 m.

52

Along line of sled tow 138. Mostly flat, sandy slope with frequent patches of exposed bedrock. Sparse fauna, some gorgonians, small patch of live stony coral. Valerie Guyot: Stn153, str.0003 Depth Range: 861 – 922 m. Sandy bottom, with occasional bedrock, cobbles and the odd boulder with impressive primnoids. Abundant pagurids, gastropods, ophiuroids, asteroids, cerianthids, forams on the sandy bottom. Numerous halosaurs, rattails, morids. Valerie Guyot: Stn154, str.0001 Depth Range: 1133 – 1336 m. Towing upslope. Initially intact dead coral with some gorgonians, changing to more extensive bedrock with scattered live stony coral from 1195 – 1133 m. Frequent patches of coral rubble, with lamp shell hash. Lots of pagurids, with normal soft sediment fauna, with tracks and burrows. Anemones and stylasterids on rocky outcrops as well. DTIS snagged on overhang at 1221m, fast for 50 mins.

Selected still images from DTIS of this seamount are given in Figure 46.

Valerie Guyot summary Valerie Guyot was one of the first of the Louisville seamounts to be discovered, and was named after the wife of one of the scientific expedition leaders in 1961. It is a large guyot, with the summit peak at about 770 m. From 1100 m it drops steeply away, but is irregular on its flanks, with areas of ridge-like extensions to the east and west, and a complex area of deep hills in the northwest.

The summit plateau region comprised mainly sandy substrate, with in places large numbers of brittle stars, and often with pagurids. More of the effort on this seamount was directed at the margins of the summit, and the upper flanks. Live coral clumps were observed in many transects. They reached VME densities on two small hill features in the northwestern region. Primnoid corals were also dense at one site. Brisingids, sponges, and crinoids were usually associated with the intact and live coral. The dense coral matrix occurred near the summit of the small hills, varying in depth between 1200 m and 1350 m. Their distribution was somewhat shallower than on some of the other seamounts. An orange roughy school was observed on the northeastern corner close to a drop-off.

53

A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 46: Valerie seamount. A, giant chimaera ( Chimaera lignaria ) at 858 m; B, orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus ) at 1106 m; C, sponge, coral, and echinoderm complex at 1395 m; D, sponges, corals, echinoderms, and orange roughy at 1211 m; E, anenome at 1171 m; F, ?primnoid gorgonian coral at 1254 m; G, common halosaur ( Halosaurus pectoralis ) and ophiuroids (brittle stars) at 887 m; H, brisingid sea-star and crinoids on Solenosmilia variabilis coral at 1136 m.

54

VME taxa distribution

The distribution of key VME taxa along DTIS transects is shown in Figures 47 to 52.

Figure 47: The distribution of Scleractinian (stony) corals on Valerie Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 48: The distribution of Antipatherian (black) corals on Valerie Guyot (OFOP data).

55

Figure 49: The distribution of Gorgonian (octo) corals on Valerie Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 50: The distribution of brisingid seastars on Valerie Guyot (OFOP data).

56

Figure 51: The distribution of crinoids (featherstars) on Valerie Guyot (OFOP data).

Figure 52: The distribution of Porifera (sponges) on Valerie Guyot (OFOP data).

57

Stony coral distribution

The distribution of individual VME taxa have been shown under the sections for each seamount. The main taxon of interest was the Scleractinia, (the stony corals), on which the survey design was based. Small clumps of live coral were frequently observed on DTIS transects, but high densities were not often recorded (Table 4). Table 4: Summary of stony coral and VME-density records from DTIS transects. Seamount No. DTIS No. Stony coral No. VME Forde 19 11 2 CenSeam 22 6 0 Anvil 12 7 0 39South 18 6 1 Ghost 28 7 2 Valerie 16 12 2

Preliminary data based on the depth of live Scleractinia recorded on OFOP show interesting differences between seamounts, and between the depth distributions of the taxa in New Zealand waters (Figure 53).

Figure 53: Depth distribution of live scleractinian corals on the surveyed seamounts. The plot shows the median (bar), upper and lower quartiles (box), and total range (circles).

58

Specimen collection A total of 667 invertebrate and 7 fish specimen “lots” were catalogued during the survey, representing 73 invertebrate taxa from 10 phyla, and 5 fish species. The numbers of specimens per taxon are summarized in Table 5, grouped by seamount.

Table 5: List of taxa and number of specimens collected from epibenthic sled and beam trawls during TAN1402. See methods section for site codes. Phylum Class Order O.T.U. 39south Anvil Censeam Forde Ghost Valerie Grand Total Annelida Annelida 1 1 Oligochaeta Euhirudinea Hirudinidae 1 1 Polychaeta Polychaeta 106 7 1 21 6 40 181 Arthropoda Crustacea 1 1 Malacostraca Amphipoda Amphipoda 2 2 Decapoda Brachyura 11 1 7 2 35 26 82 Decapoda 1 2 4 6 5 18 Galatheidae 11 1 17 11 47 83 170 Galatheoidea 10 2 1 13 Paguridae 9 3 2 3 11 8 36 Polycheles 1 2 1 3 7 Isopoda Isopoda 2 2 Maxillopoda Cirripedia 1 1 Brachiopoda Brachiopoda 4 3 7 Bryozoa Bryozoa 7 1 8 Chordata Ascidiacea (Tunicates) Ascidiacea (Tunicates) 2 2 3 7 1 2 17 Thaliacea (Salps) Thaliacea (Salps) 1 1 5 1 8 Cnidaria Anthozoa Actiniaria Actiniaria 11 1 5 11 17 45 Alcyonacea Alcyonacea 531 3 1 10 545 Anthothela 1 1 Antipatharia Antipatharia 2 2 4 Gorgonacea Acanthogorgia 1 2 3

59

Acanthogorgiidae 1 1 Calyptrophora 1 1 Chrysogorgiidae 1 1 5 1 1 9 Corallium 1 1 2 Gorgonacea 1 2 5 1 9 Hemicorallium 3 3 Isididae 1 1 6 1 1 10 Keratoisis 1 1 Metallogorgia 7 7 Paracalyptrophora 1 1 Plexauridae 3 2 5 Primnoidae 7 2 1 1 11 Thouarella 1 1 Pennatulacea Pennatulacea 1 1 Scleractinia Caryophyllia 1 1 Caryophylliidae 3 4 8 121 14 13 163 Desmophyllum 8 8 Desmophyllum dianthus 100 1 7 108 Eguchipsammia 4 4 Goniocorella dumosa 17 2 10 14 9 52 Scleractinia 7 12 29 22 5 7 82 Solenosmilia variabilis 13 1 14 Zoantharia Zoanthidae 1 1 Hydrozoa Hydrozoa 5 3 2 20 30 Siphonophora 1 1 Anthoathecata Stylasteridae 2 1 1 3 6 13 Echinodermata Asteroidea Asteroidea 5 1 3 10 3 19 41 Brisingida Brisingida 1 1 Brisingidae 1 3 1 5

60

Paxillosida Psilaster 1 1 Valvatida Pillsburiaster 2 2 Crinoidea Crinoidea 11 2 3 198 20 19 253 Articulata Thaumatometra alternata 8 8 Echinoidea Echinoidea 3 1 7 10 10 17 48 Cidaroida Poriocidaris purpurata 1 1 Echinoida Dermechinus horridus 2 2 Gracilechinus multidentatus 2 2 Echinothurioida Echinothuriidae 1 1 Pedinoida Caenopedina 1 5 1 7 Caenopedina otagoensis 1 1 Caenopedina porphyrogigas 2 2 Holothuroidea Holothuroidea 1 3 4 Ophiuroidea Ophiuroidea 318 65 120 239 360 947 2049 Mollusca Mollusca 4 1 5 Bivalvia Bivalvia 1 3 4 Gastropoda Gastropoda 8 2 1 17 3 31 Scaphopoda Scaphopoda 1 12 13 Porifera Porifera 29 21 50 17 15 20 152 Hexactinellida Hexactinellida 2 1 3 6 12 Hexactinosida Farreidae 2 1 3 Sipuncula Sipuncula 1 1 Grand Total 1221 143 287 807 616 1267 4341

61

Notes on selected taxa The voyage collected a lot of data and samples that will be further checked, identified, and processed at NIWA. Many specimens will require formal identification/confirmation from specialist taxonomists, but below are some impressions for selected taxa from several scientists onboard. Deepsea corals A diverse array of deepsea corals are found throughout the New Zealand region and the current survey has been valuable in extending knowledge of their known distributions. Groups represented include the scleractinian cup and branching 3-D matrix forming species, black corals, various gorgonian octocorals, and the occasional sea pen ressembling Pennatula spp. The smaller stylasterid hydrocorals were observed on bedrock and overhangs. Zoanthids coated some octocorals or were seen in clusters on sandy sediment. Scleractinian stony corals : Colonies of live scleractinian coral Goniocorella dumosa and Solenosmilia variabilis form a branching matrix that is an important habitat for many deepsea organisms and provides a platform or refuge for several invertebrate groups. Both species were observed with colonies growing on bedrock and patches of hard bottom. These extended for 100s of metres in some areas, in other instances there were only a few small localised patches. Specimen samples were collected for identification, aquaria experiments, genetics, and reproductive studies. The species have been difficult to discriminate as the colonies appear to be growing on each other and/or together. Corallites on the branches of one specimen appeared to be characteristic of both species as both extratentacular and intratentacular budding was visible. Often the distinctive bridges were not apparent on G. dumosa . This proved confusing onboard, although it is not unusual for the matrix forming corals to display the inter- twined growth pattern or for one to grow on the matrix of another. Since the voyage, photographs have been sent to taxonomic experts, and after considerable discussion, they have concluded that most are Solenosmilia variabilis (S Cairns, Smithsonian Institute, USA, Marcelo Kitahara, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil), pers. comm. On several seamounts, extensive intact but dead stony coral matrix was observed down the flanks, as well as on the top on sandy bottom (Figure 54). In the northern region it was particularly noticeable that the matrix was coated in ferro-manganese. This may indicate the intact coral matrix we observed has been dead for a very long time, perhaps 1000s of years. The dead matrix was seen in areas where little or no fishing had occurred as well as on seamounts where fishing activity has been significant. It is not clear what could have caused the corals demise across such large depth gradients (100s of m) and across the entire study area (100s of km). Possibilities include that there may have been a climatic event, possibly a change in the oxygen levels where they usually thrive; sandy sediment swept up by localised currents or human disturbance may have smothered their bottom habitat and clogged their feeding ability; or the corals may have been dead for centuries, sinking with the seamounts below their preferred environment. Live branching stony corals were found at the limits of their preferred depth distribution. G. dumosa and S. variabilis are most commonly found in New Zealand waters at depths of 800-1000m. However the living corals we observed occurred deeper on the Louisville Ridge in 1200-1350 m depths. This is not outside their documented range, but it is at the lowest end.

62

Figure 54: The distribution of intact (but dead) stony coral matrix on the 6 seamounts: Left to right; Forde, CenSeam (top), Anvil, 39 South (middle), Ghost, Valerie (bottom).

63

Gorgonian distribution Gorgonian corals were variably distributed on the seamounts and guyots of the Louisville Ridge between ~650 – 1500 m depth. From north to south, the species composition varied along a gradient of Chrysogorgiidae (e.g., Metallogorgia melanotrichos , Chrysogorgia spp., and Iridogorgia spp.) to Primnoidae (e.g., Thouarella spp., & Calyptrophora spp.). Other taxa include Hemicorallium , Paragorgia , and Paramuricea , as well as Acanthogorgia and members of the Isididae (e.g., Keratoisis spp.). Most notably was the presence of Chrysogorgia spp. on each seamount, M. melanotrichos predominantly in the north, and Iridogorgia spp., observed up to and including 39 South. Primnoids increased in abundance with Thouarella spp., dominant within the gorgonians present at Ghost, and small fields of the lyrate Calyptrophora at Valerie. All gorgonian taxa were observed on hard substratum such as exposed bedrock, with sandy overlay, or boulders and dead hard coral rubble. Overall diversity and abundance of gorgonians appeared low relative to areas inside the New Zealand EEZ, such as on the Kermadec Ridge and Chatham Rise, as well as off Tasmania. Of the 24 sleds, 55 specimens were collected with at least one Chrysogorgia sp. likely new to science. Members of the Chrysogorgia genus are characteristic of the deep ocean, present on hard substratum in all ocean basins between 100 – 4492 m depth. Classical and phylogenetic analyses are underway to ascertain the taxonomic status of this specimen, particularly in relation to other Chrysogorgiidae members collected on the seamounts during this voyage, and other locations. The discovery of the bioluminescent bamboo coral Keratoisis sp. (Figure 55), is a phenomena first documented in the Hawaiian bamboo coral Lepidisis olapa , and further adds to the body of knowledge for this controversial taxonomic group. The reasons for its bioluminescence as well as its source (associate microbial communities or host) are as yet uncertain, however such research would inevitably yield invaluable results with sub-samples preserved specifically for metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses in collaboration with the Earth Microbiome Project (Argonne, USA & Bishop Museum, USA).

(a) (b)

Figure 55. (a) Bioluminescent and, (b) a close up image of Keratoisis sp., from Ghost Seamount at ~ 814 m depth from predominantly dead coral rubble substratum. Interestingly, a small, purple soft coral most probably within the family Anthothelidae, was particularly abundant at the 39° South Seamount encrusting both dead intact coral matrices and benthic substratum (Figure 56). A similar specimen has also been observed from the North Western Hawaiian Islands, and hence further comparative taxonomic investigations are planned.

64

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 56 Soft coral located on (a, b) dead coral rubble and (c) coral matrix at the 39° South Seamount, 910m

Associates A considerable diversity of invertebrate associates were sampled during the voyage inhabiting various sessile megafauna. Polychaetes including scale worms were frequently encountered on live scleractinia and gorgonians such as Thouarella spp. Ophiuroids were probably the most ubiquitous associate taxa. Ophiocreas oedipus was consistently present on colonies of the gorgonian Metallogorgia melanotrichos , which is a well documented obligate association. Numerous ophiuroids were found clinging onto gorgonian, scleractinian and sponge taxa, the latter particularly on individuals within the glass sponge family Farreidae. Crustaceans such as galatheids and shrimps (e.g., Uroptychus sp. and Bathypalaemonella sp. respectively) were also commonly associated with gorgonian colonies, as were anemones on Thouarella spp., and stylasterids on the base of bamboo corals. Brisingid seastars and crinoids were frequently observed on the live scleractinian S. variabilis. Such live structures invariably attracted a plethora of life including glass sponges and gorgonians in some cases, as well as certain echinoid species ( Caenopedina porphyrogigas and Dermechinus horridus ). How such taxa interact and provide linkages between communities will be investigated through collaboration between the University of Hawaii, Bishop Museum, WHOI, and NIWA.

Sponges Hexactinellid (or glass) sponges were common in the region, most appeared to belong to the lacey honeycomb glass sponges (Family Farreidae/ Euretidae). Small brittlestars were often attached and entwined throughout their honeycomb-like structure (left image of Figure 57). On the right, images of specimens caught in the epibenthic sled show brittle stars, cup, and branching stony corals using the dead framework of Farrea similaris as substrate to settle and grow on.

Figure 57: Lacey honeycomb glass sponges (Farreidae/ Euretidae).

65

Echinoids Echinoids were seen on most of the DTIS transects, with the most commonly observed being the flexible- test echinothurioids (Tam O’Shanters). Two genera (Hygrosoma and Sperosoma ) were present on soft- bottom transects, and a further genus ( Araeosoma ) was occasionally observed on hard substrates. Three specimens were obtained from seamount sleds (2 Araeosoma , 1 Sperosoma ) – these being the first confirmed records for these genera from the Louisville Seamount Chain. Two rigid-test species were frequently seen on hard substrates, usually in close association with live scleractinian corals. Individuals of the pedinid Caenopedina porphyrogigas , previously known from a single record on the Louisville from south of the survey area, were seen perched on live clumps of coral and nearby hard substrates in high densities (particularly on the northern seamounts Forde and CenSeam) – reminiscent of the urchin barrens more commonly seen on shallow reefs. Less common but exhibiting similar behaviour were individuals of the echinid Dermechinus horridus . This species is widely spread around the southern hemisphere and is well known from the New Zealand region including the Louisville. Because of the close association of these two urchin species with the sparsely distributed colonies of live coral there was speculation on board that they may be predating on them. However, there is also unpublished research suggesting that these two species are capable of filter feeding, an exceedingly rare feeding mode in echinoids, and therefore they may simply be positioning themselves in the best currents for food supply (filter-feeding crinoids were also very commonly seen perching on corals). Specimens of both urchin species were retained for analysis of stomach contents. Several other echinoids were encountered: the cidarid Poriocidaris purpurata , seen on DTIS and one collected; the echinid Gracilechinus multidentatus , seen on the sand in moderate densities in some locations (e.g., Anvil, 39 South) with several collected; the pedinid Caenopedina otagoensis , seen on bedrock on DTIS and one collected; and a single unidentified temnopleurid (probably Pseudechinus sp.) was extracted from within a live clump of coral matrix.

Specimen photographs Almost 500 specimen photographs of animals caught in the epibenthic sled were taken at 24 stations. Examples are given in Figure 58.

66

A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 58: Specimen images. A, brittle-star ophiuroid; B, sea-fan coral (Primnoidae); C, stony cup coral (Desmophyllum dianthus ) using the dead framework of a hexactinellid sponge Farrea similaris as substrate to settle and grow on; D, bamboo coral Keratoisis spp. showing bioluminescence; E, galatheid (squat lobster); F, echinoid (Gracilechinus multidentatus ); G, cidarid ( Poriocidaris purpuratus ); H, gastropod mollusc.

67

I J

K L

M N

O P

Figure 58: Specimen images—continued . I, unidentified crab; J, fragments of scleractinian branching stony coral matrix ( Goniocorella dumosa ); K, deep-sea blind lobster ( Polycheles sp.); L, comatulid crinoid; M, carnation cup coral ( Caryophyllia spp.); N, polychaete worm (Eunice sp.); O, plexaurid sea fan coral Paramuricea ; P, globosehead rattail ( Cetonurus crassiceps ).

68

Live coral collection Corals were sampled at 6 stations, from 4 seamounts: Anvil, 39 South, Ghost and Valerie. The 12 bin tank configuration is shown below (Table 6).

Table 6. Final aquarium tank configuration detailing station number, sample date and Specify number for the live corals in each of the 12 containers.

Container 1 Container 4 Container 7 Container 10 Station 156 Station 156 Station 66 Station 134 2/3/14 2/3/14 16/2/14 26/2/14 #94590 #94590 #94287 #94485

Container 2 Container 5 Container 8 Container 11 Station 138 Station 66 Station 91 Station 156 28/2/14 16/2/14 20/2/14 2/3/14 #94550 #94287 #94339 #94590 Container 3 Container 6 Container 9 Container 12 Station 134 Station 66 Station 97 Station 138 26/2/14 16/2/14 21/2/14 28/2/14 #94485 #94287 #94440 #94550

CTD and water sampling Table 7 summarises the CTD station details for each seamount - depth range sampled, number of alkalinity and DIC samples collected for each depth, and the bottom temperature (o C) and dissolved oxygen (DO) data. The bottom depths sampled for each seamount ranged from 1271 to 1972 m. DIC and alkalinity samples will be processed by NIWA over the coming months to obtain aragonite and calcite saturation state values by depth for each seamount. CTD information from DTIS stations and from the water sampling casts (including dissolved oxygen) will also be processed to provide additional derived variables (e.g. sigma-theta), which may be useful in helping determine environmental drivers of deep-sea coral distribution. Aragonite and calcite saturation state data derived from the in situ water samples will help ground truth existing carbonate chemistry models for the region and aid in the development of more accurate models in the coming months.

69

Table 7: Summary of water sampling TAN1402 Seamount Station_no Depth range (m) No. of Bottom Bottom DO bottles ToC ml/l Alkalinity DIC Forde 29 10-1275 11 11 3.91 3.90 CenSeam 58 7-1321 12 12 3.34 3.70 Anvil 75 10-1408 11 11 3.42 3.55 39 South 98 10-1972 11 11 2.50 3.10 Ghost 132 10-1471 12 12 3.25 3.61 Valerie 155 11-1489 12 12 3.30 3.50

Seabird observations Observation were made during 25 days over the course of the voyage, with 2,481 sightings of seabirds. Raw sightings data, not standardized to observing effort, yielded a total of 25 species (Table 8). The number of species differed between seamounts, with the northern seamounts having lower diversity than the more southern ones, especially Ghost (Table 9).

Table 8: List of seabird species (common name) observed during the voyage. NZ. Wandering Albatross Long Tailed Skua Snowy Albatross Arctic Skua Northern Royal Albatross Wedge-tailed Shearwater Southern Royal Albatross Flesh-Footed Shearwater Campbell Albatross Buller’s Shearwater Chatham Albatross Westland Petrel Salvin’s Albatross Grey Petrel White-Capped Albatross Cook’s Petrel Southern Buller’s Albatross White-necked Petrel Masked Booby Black winged Petrel Southern Giant Petrel Kermadec Petrel Northern Giant Petrel White Bellied storm Petrel Grey Ternlet

Table 9. Observation times and species numbers by seamount. Seamount Observation time (hrs) Species count Forde 60 13 CenSeam 42 9 Anvil 20 8 39South 37 11 Ghost 48 22 Valerie 35 16

70

The data represent a valuable addition to knowledge of regional distributions. As an example, Figure 59 shows the distribution on the ridge of the species combined into higher groups. Petrels dominated at the northern seamount, but as we progressed southwards, they decreased in frequency, with shearwaters and albatrosses being more common.

Figure 59: Distribution of observed albatross, shearwaters, and petrels.

Marine Mammal observations A total of 10 cetacean sightings was recorded throughout the survey. Only one sighting, of a sperm whale, was recorded in the Louisville Seamount Chain survey area. The other cetacean sightings were recorded during transit to the survey area. Species recorded included common dolphins ( Delphinus delphis ), pilot whales (Globicephala sp.) and sperm whales ( Physeter macrocephalus ) (Table 10).

Table 10: Cetacean sightings during TAN1402 Cetacean species Scientific name No. of sightings No. of Animals Common dolphins Delphinus delphis 5 141 Pilot whales Globicephela sp 1 12 Sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus 2 2 Like sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus 2 2 Total 10 157

71

Bathymetry

Some of the survey area had been mapped prior to this voyage, but 5 of the 6 seamounts had to be covered before sampling. During the survey more than 10,000 km 2 of Multibeam Echo-Sounder (MBES) data were collected. Both the bathymetry and backscatter signal was processed for the seamount targets, but bathymetry only for the transit lines between seamounts. The later were run at speeds of up to 12 kn and are of moderate quality, as is to be expected for that speed. Bathymetry data were processed using CARIS HIPS 8.1.6 and backscatter data were processed using QPS FMGT 7.3. Data from both software packages were exported into ESRI compatible formats. Using ESRI ArcGIS data were then imported into File Geo Data Bases (FGDB) for generation of map exports into the OFOP software used in DTIS operations. Previous MBES data in the survey area consisted largely of transit data from various vessels. Noteworthy is the RV Sonne voyage SO167 that collected data along the northern and central Louisville Seamount Chain. All of these were 12KHz MBES systems and as a result have horizontal resolutions of 50 m at best, usually 100 m or more. TAN1402 repeated some of the coverage of these surveys as the 30KHz MBES on RV Tangaroa allows horizontal resolutions of 25m. The gained detail of seafloor topography was important to the safe & successful deployment of DTIS, as well as an aid to survey design.

Voyage aspects Web Page At times during the voyage, blog entries were provided to NIWA. This was not an official record of the survey, but various thoughts and observations on the activities onboard.

Blog 1: New seamount research to improve fisheries management Blog 2: Mountains in the Sea: the Louisville Seamount Chain Blog 3: Sampling seamounts Blog 4: Seafloor life on the Louisville Seamounts Blog 5: Scientists at sea Blog 6: Measuring seawater chemistry on the Louisville Ridge Blog 7: Homeward bound See the webpage at: https://www.niwa.co.nz/news-and-publications/blogs/tangaroa- voyage-blog-surveying-the-louisville-seamount-chain

72

DISCUSSION The survey achieved its objectives. The DTIS coverage and supporting sled tows were completed largely as planned. Most strata were surveyed on all features, and a large amount of photographic data and specimen samples were collected. These will form a sound basis for detailed analyses in the coming year under the programme. The survey design was adapted as we learnt more about the actual bathymetry of the seamounts, and the distribution of faunal communities. Although depth itself was not a variable in either the BRT or Maxent models, many other environmental factors are in some way related to it. This caused us to replace one of the planned seamounts in the northern region, Danseur, because the modelling was based on conditions associated with a seamount with an estimated summit at about 100 m, whereas the actual summit depth was 950 m. Hence the data available to the model did not reflect the seamount characteristics at all, and sampling it would have been futile for checking the reliability of the model. The greater depth at which the stony corals occurred was unexpected. The median depth of Solenosmilia and Goniocorella on the New Zealand slope and small seamounts is 900– 1000 m., whereas on the Louisville seamounts it was 1200–1300 m. It is hoped that the detailed environmental data collected during the voyage will help interpret this (see stony corals section earlier in the report). Similarly, the amount of dead, but intact, coral matrix was surprising, although this has also been observed in other parts of the New Zealand EEZ, the Macquarie Ridge, and off Tasmania. Follow up work is planned to age the coral, and hence enable us to evaluate whether a large “die off” could coincide with a major oceanographic event, be related to the seamounts slowly getting deeper with age, or be an effect of high sedimentation rates on the guyot-shape seamounts. Our previous experience with seamount, knoll and hill features in the New Zealand region had implied that the summit and upper flank areas are often the best sites for finding high density coral “reefs”. However, with the large guyot structure of the Louisville seamounts, the summit areas were plateau-like, and predominantly soft sandy sediment. Stony corals were therefore patchy in their distribution, and were often localised in areas of steep and rough topography, such as ridges or small knob-like hills on the seamounts. Knowledge of the detailed bathymetry, and also the backscatter from the multibeam (enabling soft-hard to be discriminated) were key aspects in coral distribution. The relatively small spatial scale of biological distribution compared to the relatively large-scale environmental parameter knowledge is a challenge. However, the new data collected will be highly informative and progress the next iteration of modelling.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to all the scientific staff for their enthusiasm and hard work onboard. The vessel officers and crew also did a great job maintaining vessel position on the slow speed camera transects, and the care and skill of the camera winch drivers was greatly appreciated! Thanks to Ashley Rowden and Sadie Mills for their work in planning and getting gear ready for the survey.

73

Copies to : General Manager, Research (Rob Murdoch) [email protected] Chief Scientist, Fisheries (Rosemary Hurst) [email protected] Chief Scientist, Coasts and Oceans (Barb Hayden) [email protected] Te Kuwaha, Maori Environmental Research (Kelly May) [email protected] Regional Managers, Wellington (Andrew Laing, Julie Hall) Manager, Health and Safety (Steve Mercer) [email protected] Communications & Marketing (Geoff Baird, Greta Shirley) [email protected] Te Kuwaha (Weno Iti) [email protected] Kevin MacKay : [email protected] Project Leader : [email protected] VUW : Jonathan Gardner

Voyage Staff : Dave Bowden Owen Anderson Rob Stewart Caroline Chin Steve George Malcolm Clark Arne Pallentin John Guinotte Sonia Rowley Di Tracey Steve Parker Santiago Herrera Deb Osterhage Debra Glasgow Steve Wood Cong Zeng IT Greta Point ([email protected] ) Reception-Greta Point [email protected] Vessels: Manager NIWA Vessels - 2 (Greg Foothead) [email protected] NIWA Vessels (Karen Keddy) [email protected] Master Tangaroa – 2) Bosun Tangaroa – 2 Gear Group (John Hadfield, Neil Bagley) [email protected] [email protected] Ships Notice Board

Members of Project Advisory Group.

74

Appendix 1: TAN1402 sampling station summary. UWC = DTIS camera, SEL = epibenthic sled, SVP = sound velocity probe, CTD = conductivity temperature depth probe. Perf = gear performance, depths (s_dep, f_dep) in m, Time is NZST.

Liv e Stn Smt Method Date Time lat_d lat_min lon_d lon_min s_dep f_dep n.mile dir Perf Comments SIA 1 Test UWC 31-Jan 1734 41 15.7 174 50.11 e 20 21 0.21 305 OK DTIS test in Wellington harbour 2 Forde SVP 7-Feb 840 35 15.05 170 32.68 w 0 1508 0.00 318 OK SVP prior to multibeam survey of Forde.

Rippled sand, few outcrops, coral rubble at start. Sparse fauna. Still 3 Forde UWC 8-Feb 2 35 23.44 170 25.85 w 1003 1006 0.84 6 OK camera failed. Sandy rippled bottom, occasional rocky outcrops, patches of coral 4 Forde UWC 8-Feb 302 35 22.96 170 24.64 w 972 984 0.74 347 OK rubble, some erect (dead). Sparse fauna, some seastars, urchins. Y

Rippled sandy bottom, burrows and tracks. Tusk shells common, 5 Forde UWC 8-Feb 556 35 21.92 170 23.17 w 1023 1063 0.86 352 OK some sea stars and urchins.

Soft sandy sediment and rugged bedrock outcrops, especially at base and on ridge top. Stony, gorgonian, bamboo and black corals 6 Forde UWC 8-Feb 856 35 21.45 170 21.95 w 1145 1390 0.67 322 OK in places. Echinoids on sandy sediment. Y

Fast after 3 minutes. 150kg rock/rubble. Some dead coral rubble. 7 Forde SEL 8-Feb 1204 35 21.13 170 22.34 w 1226 1215 0.03 129 NO Small sample of urchin, crinoid, sponge, amphipod. One weak link parted but catch good. Coral rubble, some cobbles, assortment of live coral, asteroids, sponge, ophiuroids. Good 8 Forde SEL 8-Feb 1329 35 21.2 170 22.24 w 1154 1270 0.15 131 OK specimens.

Along edge of plateau. Sandy, coral rubble, rock outcrops. Intact 9 Forde UWC 8-Feb 1500 35 22.96 170 20.6 w 1090 1090 0.86 350 OK coral matrix in places. Ridge at end-corals, sponges, urchins. Y

Along last part of DTIS #9. Small catch, 10kg coral rubble, 10 Forde SEL 8-Feb 1956 35 22.06 170 20.78 w 1175 1280 0.20 2 OK Metallogorgia.

Flat sandy seabed, ripples, exposed bedrock, coral rubble in places. 11 Forde UWC 8-Feb 2123 35 22.44 170 21.62 w 1040 1144 0.83 346 OK Sparse fauna.

Steep gullies, lava flows,some coral matrix, mainly isolated 12 Forde UWC 9-Feb 32 35 20.49 170 23.16 w 1250 1258 0.88 302 OK gorgonian and black coral, crinoids. Y Came fast for 1.5 hours. Slope at start with rubble, then rocky and dense stony corals. Definite VME density. Need to change over 13 Forde UWC 9-Feb 340 35 19.36 170 26.11 w 1288 1355 0.06 321 NO DTIS and repair. Y

40kg coral rubble with some live stony corals, with polychaetes, 14 Forde SEL 9-Feb 736 35 19.57 170 26.32 w 1137 1154 0.21 45 OK ophiuroids, Metallogorgia, some sponges. 50kg crusty rock. 15 Forde SEL 9-Feb 940 35 20.24 170 26.58 w 1075 1100 0.38 45 OK 15kg coral rubble, mainly dead, 80%SVA, 20% GDU.

44kg dead coral rubble, mainly Solenosmilia, 20% cup coral. 0.2kg 16 Forde SEL 9-Feb 1323 35 18.92 170 27.15 w 1160 1350 0.17 0 OK live specimens-ophiuroids, brisingid seastar, black coral.

Continuation of DTIS#013. No stills. Hill at start has live coral matrix, 17 Forde UWC 9-Feb 1639 35 19.27 170 26.51 w 1154 1335 0.44 312 OK VME density. Y 18 Forde UWC 9-Feb 1917 35 18.97 170 27.1 w 1163 1583 0.60 318 OK Live coral on summit and flanks of hill in SE corner of cell. Y

Sand-gravel, bedrock in places. Scattered areas of intact coral 19 Forde UWC 9-Feb 2243 35 20.57 170 29.29 w 1302 1189 0.79 10 OK matrix and live coral. Y

75

Sandy with coral rubble. Rocky outcrops. Crinoids abundant in 20 Forde UWC 10-Feb 144 35 25 170 27.21 w 1298 1184 0.78 359 OK sandy areas. Y

Gradual slope. Rippled sandy sediment. Tusk shells. Occasional 21 Forde UWC 10-Feb 454 35 25.46 170 23.18 w 1031 988 0.69 357 OK urchins, seastars, shrimp, crab, rattails.

Sandy sediment, gradual shallow slope. Burrows, tracks, tusk shells. 22 Forde UWC 10-Feb 748 35 25.48 170 22.75 w 1027 998 0.69 1 OK One patch of bedrock with gorgonian corals, some coral rubble.

Flat tow to west. Rippled sand, burrows, tracks, tusk shells. 23 Forde UWC 10-Feb 1041 35 26.24 170 21.96 w 1071 1066 0.64 271 OK Occasional seastars, urchins. No coral.

Flat sand with ripples, occasional anemones, scaphopods. At end of 24 Forde UWC 10-Feb 1341 35 26.47 170 20.93 w 1070 1055 0.77 20 OK transect, some bedrock, intact coral (dead), bamboo coral.

SE flank 1200-1500m. Intact dead coral matrix on summit of hill at 25 Forde UWC 10-Feb 1625 35 26.88 170 18.42 w 1330 1410 0.65 11 OK start and upper slopes. Current scoured lava flows and sand in gully. Y

Flat rippled sand, sparse fauna. Some bedrock with coral rubble 26 Forde UWC 10-Feb 1857 35 22.85 170 22.02 w 1022 999 0.97 292 OK towards end of tow.

Central area of seamount. Mostly rippled sand, occasional patches 27 Forde UWC 10-Feb 2137 35 21.94 170 26.43 w 1038 1080 0.88 291 OK of bedrock with coral rubble. Y

Land on top of cone, bedrock with some intact coral (dead), tow north down slope with bedrock, rock outcrops. Some seastars. Base 28 Forde UWC 11-Feb 53 35 23.92 170 22.9 w 970 993 0.69 19 OK at 996m with sandy gravel, occasional scaphopods and sea stars. 29 Forde CTD 11-Feb 523 35 19.05 170 27.32 w 0 1260 0.18 31 OK CTD over tow #18 site. 11 of 12 bottles fired.

Small catch. 15kg dead Solenosmilia. Some crinoids, urchin, 30 Forde SEL 11-Feb 738 35 18.94 170 27.15 w 1160 1470 0.35 324 OK holothurian.

HPR on. 53kg coral rubble. Some live stony coral. Urchin, 31 Forde SEL 11-Feb 937 35 19.01 170 27.09 w 1205 1600 0.64 326 OK ophiuroids, crinoids, Chrysogorgia, small sponges. 32 CenSeam SVP 11-Feb 1914 36 45.6 169 54.73 w 0 1500 0.20 221 OK SVP prior to MBES survey of CenSeam Guyot Bedrock with sand overlay mostly, with rippled sand and coral rubble. Scattered intact coral, both live and dead clumps. Few other 33 CenSeam UWC 12-Feb 1146 36 57.5 169 41.53 w 1072 1037 0.62 349 OK animals. Y

Rippled sand seafloor, some patches of exposed rock with dead 34 CenSeam UWC 12-Feb 1418 36 58.02 169 42.09 w 1075 1025 0.72 1 OK intact coral. Scattered patches of coral rubble. Y Mostly rippled sand, coral fragments, few patches intact coral. 35 CenSeam UWC 12-Feb 1717 36 56.49 169 43.15 w 978 967 0.85 351 OK Sparse fauna, tusk shells, gastropods, some shrimps.

To north along 1000m isobath. Rippled sand. Sparse fauna. Tusk 36 CenSeam UWC 12-Feb 1944 36 55.47 169 42.17 w 998 995 0.75 6 OK shells.

Muddy sand throughout transect. One crab, scattered urchins, 37 CenSeam UWC 12-Feb 2213 36 54.51 169 45.57 w 945 954 0.78 355 OK gastropods. Sandy-gravel bottom with coral rubble. Some rocky outcrops with patches of intact coral, mostly dead. One live clump. Scattered 38 CenSeam UWC 13-Feb 104 36 53.49 169 41.57 w 1011 1019 0.73 356 OK sparse fauna. Y Gradual slope. Mainly rippled sand, but some bedrock near stat with some live coral clumps. Scattered tusk shells, sea stars, shark, 39 CenSeam UWC 13-Feb 403 36 53.46 169 42.5 w 985 997 0.77 341 OK rattail. Y

76

Rippled sand with shell hash and coral rubble, with bedrock outcrops. Some intact (dead) coral, anemones, sea stars, tusk shell, 40 CenSeam UWC 13-Feb 702 36 51.59 169 42.02 w 1052 1024 0.76 254 OK sponges. Occasional shrimps, fish.

Rippled sand over most of transect, scattered coral rubble. 41 CenSeam UWC 13-Feb 958 36 52.51 169 43.6 w 997 977 0.89 239 OK Scaphopods, tracks, burrows. Several tam-o-shanter urchins.

Rippled sand substrate, with frequent tracks and burrows evident. 42 CenSeam UWC 13-Feb 1224 36 52.57 169 46.57 w 999 976 0.76 203 OK Tusk shells, sea stars and urchins scattered. No coral.

Sand throughout except for patches of rock and corral rubble in final 43 CenSeam UWC 13-Feb 1458 36 53.56 169 47.05 w 966 968 0.87 199 OK ten minutes of transect.

No DTIS still images - camera malfunction. Sand/mud substrata with some small patches of exposed rock with coral rubble. Sparse fauna 44 CenSeam UWC 13-Feb 1904 36 53.47 169 49.46 w 978 980 0.72 206 OK including asteroids, gastropods, Tam O'shanter echinoids.

No DTIS still images - camera malfunction. Sand substrata with occasional patches of coral rubble and exposed rock. Small heads 45 CenSeam UWC 13-Feb 2131 36 53.01 169 50.61 w 1029 1031 0.75 194 OK of intact coral matrix in places, one soft coral recorded.

No DTIS still images - camera malfunction. DTIS at revised Str2_4. Bedrock and sand with coral rubble. On downslope at ca. 1100m, a few heads of live coral, large sponges, and Metallogorgia 46 CenSeam UWC 14-Feb 14 36 53.09 169 51.56 w 1145 1147 0.83 207 OK specimens. Y

Sled towards DTIS#046. Land short, tow 10 minutes, come fast. 47 CenSeam SEL 14-Feb 258 36 53.52 169 51.79 w 1098 1122 0.20 210 OK 17kg rocks, 6kg coral rubble-Solenosmilia. 48 CenSeam SEL 14-Feb 447 36 53.79 169 51.93 w 1116 1350 0.28 245 OK 18kg coral rubble. Sponge, prawnkiller, squat lobster, ophiuroids. Target tow south across contours, and down steep flank of spur. Flat and sandy for much of transect,tusk shells, some asteroids. Stop recording to extend tow. Restart towards edge. Bedrock, coral rubble, intact (dead) coral. High densities urchins on boulders down 49 CenSeam UWC 14-Feb 705 36 54.62 169 49.99 w 999 1253 0.92 189 OK flanks.

Flat sandy bottom for most of the transect. Tusk shells, tam-o- shanter urchins, sea stars. Towards end, on upper flanks, dead 50 CenSeam UWC 14-Feb 1020 36 55 169 48.01 w 994 1117 0.75 227 OK intact coral.

Rippled sand, scaphopods, tracks, burrows. Occasional asteroids, 51 CenSeam UWC 14-Feb 1256 36 55.53 169 43.96 w 957 949 0.78 248 OK one octopus, one oreo. 52 CenSeam UWC 14-Feb 1530 36 56.09 169 46.03 w 964 982 0.70 237 OK Flat, rippled sand, scaphopods, tracks, some asteroids.

Gradual down-slope tow. Sand, tracks, scaphopods, occasional 53 CenSeam UWC 14-Feb 1757 36 57.5 169 45.56 w 980 1009 0.71 199 OK asteroids. Tow south across edge of plateau. Sand with sparse fauna on plateau, giving way to boulders, bedrock, coral rubble, and intact coral matrix at the plateau edge. Urchins abundant on rock and coral matrix. Below ca. 1400m, bare bedrock with Bathypathes and Metallogorgia corals, and one large Iridogorgia specimen recorded 54 CenSeam UWC 14-Feb 2042 36 59.09 169 46.15 w 1021 1493 0.95 186 OK in video. Tow along 1050m isobath. Rippled sand overlaying bedrock through most of transect, exposed bedrock common. Areas of coral rubble, intact coral matrix, and a few apparently live scleractinian coral 55 CenSeam UWC 14-Feb 2339 36 58 169 42.53 w 1045 1054 0.80 239 OK heads. One orange roughy recorded. Y

77

Sandy at start, increasing coral rubble, then intact (dead) coral on bedrock on the humps. Some sponges also. After humps, back into 56 CenSeam UWC 15-Feb 243 36 54.18 169 50.67 w 1005 1011 0.41 188 OK sandy habitat.

Good tow line, sticky on humps. 161kg coral rubble, 40kg crust 57 CenSeam SEL 15-Feb 437 36 54.47 169 50.78 w 1013 1010 0.24 25 OK rocks, 3kg sponge, brittle stars, cidarid urchin, crab. 58 CenSeam CTD 15-Feb 554 36 55.55 169 49.99 w 10 1322 0.00 270 OK CTD on target site, 1300m depth, all 12 bottles fired.

Tow down DTIS#49 line. Land at base. 46kg coral rubble, 23kg rock, 59 CenSeam SEL 15-Feb 737 36 55.45 169 50.17 w 1147 1400 0.31 195 OK 5 urchins (Caenopedina), sponge, squat lobster, brittle stars.

Rippled sand with white urchins, then rock with coral rubble, intact coral matrix and possible live scleractinia. Urchins on coral and 60 Anvil UWC 15-Feb 1809 37 36.96 169 0.99 w 1191 1225 0.70 342 OK bedrock in latter part of transect. Y 61 Anvil UWC 15-Feb 2126 37 36.77 169 6.02 w 1152 1138 0.65 271 OK Flat bottom, rippled muddy sand, sparse fauna. 62 Anvil UWC 16-Feb 21 37 39.19 169 6.27 w 1142 1135 0.76 1 OK Flat transect, muddy sand with few animals.

Flat muddy sand at start. Bedrock outcrops with intact coral, live heads, urchins, crinoids, some gorgonians. Over "edge" more 63 Anvil UWC 16-Feb 319 37 41.98 169 0.77 w 1230 1418 0.76 191 OK bedrock with live coral. Y Flat sandy substrate at start, then exposed bedrock at edge, and rough going down flank. Intact coral (dead) with some live heads, 64 Anvil UWC 16-Feb 634 37 39.75 168 58.99 w 1238 1495 0.71 155 OK occasional gorgonians and black coral. Y

Mainly rippled sand, occasional echinoid, sparse fauna. Boulders 65 Anvil UWC 16-Feb 958 37 39.64 169 0.76 w 1171 1192 0.77 168 OK and patches of bedrock in places, no corals.

Tow down DTIS#063 line. Small, diverse catch, live scleractinians, 66 Anvil SEL 16-Feb 1229 37 42.44 169 0.9 w 1244 1370 0.31 191 OK gorgonians … DTIS across 'Little Pig' hill at southwest corner of south Anvil peak. Coral rubble throughout, sand, then bedrock. Little intact coral, no live scleractinia seen. Occasional black corals, gorgonians, 67 Anvil UWC 16-Feb 1440 37 41.16 169 5.96 w 1047 1104 0.36 294 OK sponges, orange roughy.

Tow across plateau edge and down seamount flank. Level sand at first, then bedrock and boulders down slope. Sparse fauna but 68 Anvil UWC 16-Feb 1722 37 37.71 169 7.35 w 1162 1528 0.53 215 OK isolated heads of live scleractinian coral Y

69 Anvil UWC 16-Feb 2009 37 35.34 169 10.55 w 1203 1196 0.82 77 OK Sandy seabed, sparse fauna, echinoids, scaphopods, cerianthids. Mostly rippled sand but two patches of exposed bedrock with a few 70 Anvil UWC 16-Feb 2240 37 38.21 169 3.81 w 1090 1099 0.71 100 OK apparently live heads of scleractinian coral. Y

Rippled sand interspersed with bouldery outcrops. Sparse fauna. 71 Anvil UWC 17-Feb 106 37 37.26 169 2.05 w 1150 1137 0.22 109 OK DTIS comms lost at 16 minutes following snag on rocks.

Rippled firm sand, Gracilechinus urchins and tusk shells. Occasional bouldery outcrops, some localised sponge and intact (?live) stony 72 Anvil UWC 17-Feb 357 37 37.26 169 1.62 w 1157 1180 0.63 105 OK coral on rocks. Y Rocky at start off side of small hill, intact corals (some live), gorgonian corals, sponges, urchins. Then level out with rippled sandy bottom, coral rubble. Then last part of transect like the beginning, intact coral, some live scleractinians, urchins, sponges, 73 Anvil UWC 17-Feb 644 37 34.47 168 59.48 w 1285 1338 0.81 125 OK crinoids. Diverse tow. Y

78

95kg rocks, crust and conglomerate. 6kg coral rubble. 74 Anvil SEL 17-Feb 913 37 34.44 168 59.33 w 1275 1380 0.15 137 OK Gracellechinus, pipe coral, gorgonian coral, ophiuroids.

75 Anvil CTD 17-Feb 1139 37 42.7 169 1.14 w 0 1410 0.00 101 OK CTD on site of corals and DTIS #063. Downslope from southern edge of summit plateau: extensive intact coral matrix - none live - on plateau, bedrock and sand on flank, 76 JCM UWC 17-Feb 2348 38 36.96 167 56.19 w 868 1245 0.91 123 OK some live scleractinian heads on bedrock at 1210 m. Y 77 39south SVP 18-Feb 506 39 2.27 167 15.03 w 0 1500 0.00 9 OK SVP prior to swath map survey of 39degS.

Flat sandy seabed, ripped in second half of transect. Sparse fauna 78 39south UWC 18-Feb 1918 39 13.57 167 21.46 w 1084 1104 0.94 93 OK including pagurids, Tam O'shanter urchins, eels. Sand with some patches of exposed bedrock, becoming rugged bedrock at drop-off to seamount flank. Very sparse fauna 79 39south UWC 18-Feb 2147 39 14.52 167 15.99 w 1236 1270 0.92 33 OK throughout; one or two hexactinellid sponges on rocks.

Flat sandy bottom, with some bedrock, boulder and gravel outcrops. Sparse fauna, occasional crab, sponge. Live scleractinian coral 80 39south UWC 19-Feb 14 39 14.18 167 16.84 w 1201 1222 0.75 40 OK heads on bedrock outcrops. Y Downslope off plateau. Rippled sand for first half, worms, scaphopods, giant foraminifera, then bedrock and boulder outcrops, with coral rubble, some intact coral (dead), occasional sponges and 81 39south UWC 19-Feb 312 39 8.83 167 18.03 w 1053 1241 0.78 128 OK crinoids. 2 small clumps of live coral. Y

On flat plateau. Sandy, rippled, substrate. Gastropods, scaphopods, 82 39south UWC 19-Feb 625 39 6.49 167 21.52 w 961 979 0.72 124 OK tracks, burrows. Sparse fauna. On area of fishing foul, and high reflectivity. Sandy bottom interspersed with occasional bedrock outcrops. Gastropods, tusk shells on sand; sponge, gorgonian and soft corals, crinoids on rocks. 83 39south UWC 19-Feb 859 39 6.96 167 23.49 w 930 918 0.87 119 OK No intact coral.

Eastern side down slope. Soft sandy sediment, gastropods and tusk 84 39south UWC 19-Feb 1149 39 6.2 167 18.15 w 1079 1158 0.88 92 OK shells. Occasional bedrock outcrop, sand covered. No intact coral. 85 39south UWC 19-Feb 1533 39 4.48 167 23.5 w 988 1014 0.93 64 OK Sand with indistinct ripples. Sparse fauna. Tow down slope on northern flank to 1600m. Rippled sand at start, increasing bedrock down slope. One small live coral head on sand, Generally sparse fauna but dense urchin population on outcrop at 86 39south UWC 19-Feb 1821 39 3.24 167 25.92 w 1136 1605 0.69 76 OK 1275m. Y 87 39south UWC 19-Feb 2043 39 4.72 167 25.48 w 995 983 0.89 86 OK Flat sand, sparse fauna. One lithodid crab seen. Tow up slope. Sand and pale bedrock and boulders at start, brisingid star abandoned trawl gear, large columnar sea pen. Leveling off to rippled sand with sparse fauna. No scleractinian 88 39south UWC 19-Feb 2311 39 3.8 167 21.97 w 1095 1021 0.85 130 OK corals seen.. Areas of exposed bedrock and boulders with gorgonian (Paragorgia) and black corals. Sand substrate over much of transect, with 89 39south UWC 20-Feb 147 39 9.92 167 20.92 w 905 950 0.72 136 OK gastropods and tam-o-shanter urchins. 1 live clump of stony coral. Y

Exposed bedrock along top of deep ridge on eastern flank. Sand overlay and sand drifts. Black corals, urchins (Gracelechinus) and 90 39south UWC 20-Feb 457 39 6.81 167 14.99 w 1470 1573 0.84 129 OK glass sponges.

79

53kg rocks, 47kg coral rubble. 5kg live material. Diverse corals (Corallium, Thouarella, Goniocorella, primnoids, Bathypathes, purple soft corals). Sponges, Tam-o-shanter, sea star and brittle stars, 91 39south SEL 20-Feb 800 39 9.86 167 21.01 w 910 934 0.62 139 OK hermit crabs, worms, gastropods, squat lobsters. 92 39south SVP 20-Feb 1030 39 18.63 167 25.06 w 0 1500 0.00 42 OK SVP prior to multibeam survey of western side of 39south

Sand with bedrock. Solitary corals and anemones frequent on sand. Live stony corals, brisingids, crinoids on rocks. Sheer drop-off at 93 39south UWC 21-Feb 34 39 11.58 167 35.5 w 1087 1180 0.85 156 OK end. Y

Along crest of ridge. Bedrock and boulders, interspersed with sand and coral rubble drifts. Scattered but frequent pockets of intact coral, clumps of live stony coral, feather stars, brisingid sea stars, 94 39south UWC 21-Feb 320 39 8.67 167 32.52 w 1064 1062 0.88 202 OK gorgonian and black coral, flute sponge. Y

Rippled sandy sediment, tusk shells and worms. Some rocky outcrops, generally bare. Some dead intact coral patches towards 95 39south UWC 21-Feb 556 39 10.15 167 34.3 w 1093 1063 0.83 178 OK end of transect.

Sandy bottom at start, tusk shells, sea stars, crab, giant forams in places. Then bedrock with sandy overlay from 1200 crinoids, 96 39south UWC 21-Feb 934 39 13.67 167 29.82 w 1084 1340 0.82 170 OK sponge, gorgonian, black corals.

9kg coral rubble. Small catch of invertebrates, some live 97 39south SEL 21-Feb 1223 39 11.75 167 35.39 w 1082 1090 0.47 157 OK Goniocorella, gorgonian corals, brittle stars. 98 39south CTD 21-Feb 1334 39 13.12 167 34.88 w 0 1965 0.24 155 OK CTD off southern flank. 11/12 bottles fired. 99 Ghost SVP 22-Feb 350 40 36.25 165 24.29 w 0 1500 0.00 66 OK SVP prior to starting multibeam survey of Ghost Seamount.

630m peak. Bedrock/sand overlay, smooth. Extensive coral rubble, 100 Ghost UWC 22-Feb 1607 40 41.05 165 19.91 w 645 1022 0.85 319 OK sparse fauna. Some oreo and cardinalfish.

Northeast hill. Areas of dead intact coral, sparse fauna, sme 101 Ghost UWC 22-Feb 1831 40 39.29 165 18.9 w 916 1101 0.93 322 OK brisingids, crinoids. 102 Ghost UWC 22-Feb 2114 40 39.02 165 21.58 w 1107 1005 0.94 194 OK Rippled sandy bottom, sparse fauna. Coral rubble, intact dead coral at top of hill. Patch of dense bamboo coral and gorgonians on the matrix mid-hill. Generally sparse fauna. 103 Ghost UWC 22-Feb 2342 40 43.24 165 20.47 w 759 831 0.84 336 OK Signs of gear scours.

"FaceAche". Summit at 613m. Exposed rock, coral rubble, trawl warp and scours. Patch of anemones and brisingids. Scattered 104 Ghost UWC 23-Feb 218 40 42.12 165 20.74 w 661 930 0.74 330 OK gorgonioans, intact (dead) coral Transect SE to NW across hill and ridge. Extensive dead intact coral on SE side of hill, patches of brisingids and crinoids. 910m at 105 Ghost UWC 23-Feb 500 40 42.16 165 16.62 w 1117 1070 0.81 318 OK summit, coral rubble and sand overlay. Bouldery at base and ridge.

Flat bottom, rippled sand, scattered gastropods, asteroids. Sparse 106 Ghost UWC 23-Feb 743 40 41.92 165 18.52 w 960 994 0.89 342 OK fauna. Land on eastern sde of hill, tow up towards summit with heavy coral rubble, some intact coral, bedrock. Rubble and intact patches also on western side, a single patch with gorgonians, black coral, 107 Ghost UWC 23-Feb 1023 40 42.84 165 18.72 w 837 980 0.78 296 OK brisingids.

Tow on eastern flank. Mostly rippled sand with some patches of dark 108 Ghost UWC 23-Feb 1336 40 43.2 165 13.96 w 1393 1299 0.74 310 OK bedrock and boulders. Sparse fauna.

80

Along slope at eastern edge of plateau. Mostly sand with some patches of dark boulders and bedrock. Brisingids and anemones in places on rocks. Two small live scleractinian colonies observed in 109 Ghost UWC 23-Feb 1608 40 44.23 165 15 w 1041 1043 0.87 339 OK video replay. Y

Tow across a rise on Mount Ghost. Rippled sand, bedrock outcrops 110 Ghost UWC 23-Feb 1855 40 46.29 165 14.54 w 1050 992 0.76 330 OK with intact coral and coral rubble in places, sparse fauna.

Target line of DTIS#103. 59kg coral rubble, a large bamboo coral, 111 Ghost SEL 23-Feb 2121 40 43.03 165 20.56 w 814 912 0.23 326 OK several crabs, pagurids. 112 Ghost SEL 23-Feb 2244 40 43.08 165 20.57 w 768 913 0.23 324 OK Repeat of tow 111. 68kg coral rubble.

Tow from summit down to N. Intact old coral at top, rubble on flank. 113 Ghost UWC 24-Feb 3 40 42.03 165 21.63 w 742 917 0.67 349 OK Trawl marks. Sparse fauna.

Transect up and over small hill. Coral rubble on flanks, intact coral, rubble, and patches of abundant brisingids and crinoids. Flat areas 114 Ghost UWC 24-Feb 305 40 41.15 165 17.55 w 1077 1092 0.89 341 OK with rippled sand, gastropods. Downslope, sandy at start, abundant worms. Small hill at 1090m with coral rubble, intact coral, brisingid sea stars and crinoids. 115 Ghost UWC 24-Feb 529 40 38.66 165 20.6 w 1125 1385 0.81 343 OK Deeper, bedrock and sand, sparse fauna, orange roughy, rattails. 116 Ghost SVP 24-Feb 711 40 37.33 165 21 w 0 1500 0.00 187 OK SVP prior to MBES survey of southwestern Ghost Seamount. Tow downslope from summit of hill. Intact coral matrix on friable, pale bedrock at start, becoming coral rubble and sand, then dark, smooth bedrock at transect end. Sparse fauna; brisingid stars, 117 Ghost UWC 24-Feb 1849 40 46.18 165 22.34 w 701 1067 0.77 205 OK asteroids, an urchin, shrimps, rattails, sharks. Tow across northern summit, along ridge and down flank. Heterogeneous substrata; friable pale bedrock with coral matrix, boulders, smooth dark bedrock, sand overlay. Brisingid stars, small 118 Ghost UWC 24-Feb 2132 40 44.41 165 22.07 w 687 955 0.95 168 OK zoanthids, oreos, cardinals, rattails.

Tow southeast from summit at 796m. Bedrock with intat coral, coral rubble, sand patches. Crinoids, some urchins, scattered gorgonian 119 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 1 40 42.75 165 25.04 w 872 963 0.79 155 OK and black coral.

Over summit at 860m, down SE flank onto flat. Coral rubble, occasional brisingids, crinoids. Sparse fauna. School of small 120 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 244 40 42.84 165 26.85 w 886 1153 0.79 169 OK cardinalfish, scattered roughy, rattails, sharks.

Along flat plateau, abundant gastropods, then up flanks to ridge peak off side of a ill at 880m. Bedrock with coral rubble. Then down 121 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 516 40 43.19 165 23.4 w 928 956 0.91 151 OK onto sandy plateau. Sparse fauna.

Flat sandy bottom, giant forams abundant. Then sparse fauna on hard substrate, bedrock with sandy overlay, occasional sponges, 122 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 831 40 46.11 165 25.56 w 1202 1254 0.99 149 OK brisingids, one clump of live stony coral. Y

Small hill, down slope to ridge on southern side. Bedrock with sandy overlay at start. Heavy coral rubble on summit. Some sponge, 123 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 1058 40 46.03 165 20.85 w 991 1088 0.77 146 OK brisingids, crinoids. Fish.

Along DTIS #122 line. Fast at end, poor sample; two rocks and a 124 Ghost SEL 25-Feb 1332 40 46.65 165 25.14 w 1230 1260 0.42 151 OK sponge. Across edge of plateau. Rippled sand at start, becoming dark bedrock on steep drop-offs. Sparse fauna throughout; TAM, 125 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 1549 40 46.39 165 17.92 w 1011 1375 0.81 179 OK cerianthids, shrimps, ORH, oreos.

81

Same hill as #122 but 330 degrees. Coral rubble at start, intact coral on bedrock deeper, with patch of bamboo corals at ~900m. Rippled 126 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 1829 40 41.88 165 21.97 w 718 945 0.82 330 OK sand from base of hill onwards. Sparse fauna throughout. Tow from southern crest of hill north along and down flank. Rugged dark bedrock with intact coral matrix and live scleractinian heads in 127 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 2119 40 41.06 165 29.8 w 1104 1195 0.83 352 OK several places. Also Bathypathes , some sponges, crinoids. Y

Northwestern corner. Extensive intact coral "reef", many live heads along the length of the transect. Interspersed with sand and 128 Ghost UWC 25-Feb 2353 40 38.46 165 32.82 w 1332 1510 0.70 298 OK bedrock, but dominated by coral. Y

North flank. Sandy with rock outcrops with intact coral, some live heads. Ridge with blocky lava, extensive intact coral, some live 129 Ghost UWC 26-Feb 251 40 38.6 165 30.85 w 1260 1509 0.84 344 OK stony coral, crinoids. No Hipap at end. Y

Land on bouldery seafloor, with intact coral and live heads. Expanses of rippled sand, then downslope bedrock, sand overlay, 130 Ghost UWC 26-Feb 553 40 39.54 165 32.29 w 1305 1575 0.72 285 OK sparse fauna. Y

Sandy for much of transect, sparse fauna. Downslope with bedrock 131 Ghost UWC 26-Feb 858 40 39.31 165 27.82 w 1179 1618 0.95 41 OK and sand overlain, very few animals, occasional fish. 132 Ghost CTD 26-Feb 1216 40 38.17 165 33.28 w 0 1480 0.25 301 OK CTD on site of DTIS 128, with live corals.

At seabed early and came fast; small sample of rocks and sponge 133 Ghost SEL 26-Feb 1430 40 38.31 165 33.15 w 1360 1400 0.11 291 OK fragments.

Good sample: 81.67kg coral matrix and rock with numerous live 134 Ghost SEL 26-Feb 1606 40 38.31 165 33.16 w 1370 1448 0.24 293 OK coral fragments, crinoids, sponges, gorgonians, ophiuroids.

Tow perpendicular to #128, across ridge from S-N. Bare rock on southern side, high density of intact coral with live heads on ridge, 135 Ghost UWC 26-Feb 1835 40 38.45 165 33.55 w 1519 1600 0.70 34 OK then rock, boulders, rippled sand down northern side. Y

136 Valerie SVP 27-Feb 250 41 18.45 164 27.98 w 0 1500 0.00 324 OK SVP prior to MBES survey of southwestern sector of Valerie Guyot

78kg coral rubble, some sponge, brittle stars, galatheids. Small 137 Valerie SEL 28-Feb 731 41 33.95 164 15.66 w 1060 1061 0.25 76 OK amount live coral Y

53kg coral rubble. Good live Scleractinea, with brittle stars, 138 Valerie SEL 28-Feb 913 41 34.89 164 15.31 w 1223 1241 0.22 82 OK galatheids, crabs, sponges. 54kg rocks. Y Rippled sand over much of transect, some bedrock and boulder outcrops. Dense patches of small ophiuropids in places, scattered 139 Valerie UWC 28-Feb 1154 41 29.21 164 18.96 w 926 862 0.59 28 OK gastropods, pagurids, asteroids. 3-4 m swell, many bottom contacts.

Sand and gravel substrata with some coral rubble observed towards end of transect. High densities of small ophiuroids, frequent 140 Valerie UWC 28-Feb 1414 41 26.8 164 17.45 w 787 769 0.74 29 OK pagurids. 2-3 m swell, many bottom contacts. Y

Level sand with pebbles/cobbles and ripples through most of transect, coral rubble and patches of bedrock at end. Asteroids, 141 Valerie UWC 28-Feb 1649 41 24.94 164 18.35 w 879 900 0.90 27 OK ophiuroids, pagurids, sharks, rattails, eels.

Level sand with coral fragments. Echinothurids, ophiuroids, 142 Valerie UWC 28-Feb 1911 41 24.41 164 15.89 w 869 968 1.05 14 OK pagurids, asteroids, eels. 2-3 m swell, many bottom contacts.

82

Tow from plateau down slope. Sand, changing to outcrops of bedrock and coral rubble. Intact coral, some live, near end of 143 Valerie UWC 28-Feb 2147 41 18.43 164 17.78 w 1084 1372 0.89 18 OK transect. Y

NE spur. Sand at start, patches of intact coral, some live. Bedrock and sand mix, dense orange roughy at times near drop-off, live coral 144 Valerie UWC 1-Mar 20 41 18.46 164 16.04 w 1082 1287 0.65 21 OK patches throughout. Y

NW flank. Sandy on plateau, more bedrock outcrops as go down 145 Valerie UWC 1-Mar 324 41 19 164 20.37 w 1167 1360 0.82 28 OK flank. Several small clumps of live coral, with brisingids and crinoids. Y

Sandy bottom, small holothurians and cerianthids abundant in 146 Valerie UWC 1-Mar 621 41 23.34 164 23.33 w 1352 1405 0.88 15 OK places, otherwise scattered and sparse fauna. West Hill. Up ridge from SW, soft initially, then bedrock with dense fan corals. Pockets of intact coral, live heads, crinoids, brisingids. Quiet again offridge, but on north side 1365-1450 intact coral, many 147 Valerie UWC 1-Mar 905 41 22.21 164 25.42 w 1312 1544 1.01 19 OK live heads, brisingids, crinoids. Y West hill. Up ridge from south. Dense primnoids at start, and again midway up. Peak at 1205, where scattered intact coral and live coral. Gets denser as deepen on north side, extensive 1300-1450m, 148 Valerie UWC 1-Mar 1151 41 22.29 164 25.14 w 1263 1386 0.78 0 OK then less.Crinoids and brisingids. Y Down weak ridge from east to west. Sand at start, then coral rubble and areas of bedrock. Intact coral in places with some live colonies, brisingids and sponges to ~1350m, then sand, bedrock, coral rubble 149 Valerie UWC 1-Mar 1503 41 23.88 164 26.02 w 1122 1474 0.91 298 OK to end of tow. Y Tow N along high-backscatter ridge. Bedrock outcrops with intact coral matrix and some live colonies, brisingids and sponges along west side. Massive outcrop of bedrock at end of transect with extensive intact coral and abundant live colonies. Awkward swell, 150 Valerie UWC 1-Mar 1742 41 23.66 164 25.9 w 1135 1400 0.89 22 OK many bottom contacts. Y Tow downslope to 1600m. Muddy sand then increasing bedrock outcrops. Sparse epifauna but one patch of intact coral matrix at ca. 151 Valerie UWC 1-Mar 2047 41 29.92 164 20.92 w 1210 1623 0.76 286 OK 1450m. Slickheads common.

Site of sled 138. Rippled sand, bedrock at end, little coral rubble or 152 Valerie UWC 2-Mar 13 41 34.76 164 15.19 w 1245 1281 0.75 247 OK sgn of live scleractinia. Y Flat, sandy bottom. Occasional bedrock and cobble patches, with primnoid crals. Sand has frequent gastropods, pagurids, ophiuroids, with asteroids, cerianthids, giant forams. Halosaurs were regularly 153 Valerie UWC 2-Mar 312 41 25.53 164 18.57 w 861 922 0.95 253 OK seen. Sand and rubble downslope, then onto ridge before dropping into a gully. Areas of bedrock, with intact coral, shell hash. Between 1195 and 1133 at top of ridge, pockets of live coral with crinoids and 154 Valerie UWC 2-Mar 618 41 29.24 164 9.48 w 1336 1220 0.53 237 OK sponges. Y 155 Valerie CTD 2-Mar 1004 41 21.03 164 24.98 w 0 1490 0.00 217 OK CTD near DTIS148 site. Target sled on SIA patch for species id. 288kg coral rubble, including live Scleractinia, with ophiuroids, crinoids, crabs, sponges, 156 Valerie SEL 2-Mar 1236 41 21.88 164 25.14 w 1220 1250 0.20 355 OK ploychaetes. Diverse catch.

Target sled on PRI patch for species id. Small catch, 5kg. Primnoid 157 Valerie SEL 2-Mar 1348 41 21.98 164 25.14 w 1247 1255 0.13 177 OK coral, a few ophiuroids, asteroids, crustaceans. .

83

84